Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 29, 2017 (SKNIS): The Department of Gender Affairs in St. Kitts is celebrating 20 years of the founding of the Project Viola Capacity Building Programme, which was designed to support teen mothers by assisting them with their career development and advancement in society. Kizzyanna Liburd, a graduate of the programme, lauded the programme for helping her navigate successfully through teenage pregnancy and motherhood where she is now a trained teacher and financially independent.
Miss Liburd gave her testimony to the success of the programme on the Government’s Weekly Programme “Working for You” on November 29, 2017.
“The programme was really beneficial to myself and all of the other young ladies that took part,” said Miss Liburd, as she explained that she was able to return to school and receive an education. She said that the programme involved various workshops where teen mothers were able to acquire new skills in areas such as Massage Therapy, Counselling, Health Safety and Cosmetology to help them to be financially independent.
She noted that she received a scholarship through the Department of Gender Affairs to further her education at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) where she completed her teacher training and is now employed as a teacher at the Beach Allen Primary School.
“Project Viola helped to open a way for many young ladies and I am happy to be a part of Project Viola. This is a programme that has assisted me and it has assisted others before and after me and I do not want it to get swept under the rug,” said Miss Liburd, while adding that she will be continue to be a proud advocate of the programme.
