The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

GOOD manners are often hard to come by these days, but not when you’re dealing with the young ladies of the Sapphire International Girls Club (SIGC).

Celebrating its one-year anniversary on May 3, the club has something special planned for all it’s members and those perhaps seeking to join up.

Leading up to the anniversary celebrations, the SIGC is set to host a three-day etiquette workshop entitled “The Royal Lady” on from April 7- 9 at the Cultural Arts Institute and Resource Centre on Farrington Road, from 9.30 am to 2pm daily. They are also getting ready to host their first cosmetic party on April 18 as well as an elegant tea party on the actual anniversary date.

The SIGC is a non-profit organisation launched out of a desire to mentor young ladies morally and spiritually, specifically those between the ages of 12 and 25.

Members of the organisation host workshops, summer camps, as well as conferences with educational training in subjects such as Christian education; social and dining etiquette; public speaking; poise and posture; makeup artistry; physical wellness; self-esteem and sex education.

“I can say that our first year has been challenging, but very fruitful in the lives of many,” said Cheryl Knowles, founder of the SIGC.

“We are growing daily as parents are continuously signing up their daughters to our mentoring club. Since inception, we’ve already hosted our Families Feeding Families Day, launched our website, www.sapphireinternationalgirlsclub.org, hosted numerous personal development workshops, and have begun visiting churches.”

In regards to the Royal Lady etiquette workshop, Ms Knowles said it was designed for young ladies, ages 7-17, who’ve never had any form of proper dining etiquette training and to make them into “royal ladies” in the dining room.

All registrants will receive a four-course meal and will also receive a certificate of completion.

She said this particular age group was targeted after realising that this is the tender age when girls begin to mimic what’s around them, be it positive or negative. With its developmental seminars and other activities, Ms Knowles said she hopes the club can bring about the changes necessary to empower the young ladies morally, spiritually and socially.

Topics for the workshop include: Understanding Menus and Selections, Social Control, the Dining Wardrobe and the Royal Lady Within.

“Our theme ‘The Royal Lady’ is taken from our club’s main Bible verse; 1 Peter 2:9: ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.’ We want to promote royalty in everything we do and this theme not only speaks to how a royal lady should act or what she should look like, but it’s about who she is on the inside. We are dedicated to imparting wisdom in the lives of young ladies, and with this theme on the market we want all young ladies to know that she is a royal because the King Jesus Christ is her father,” said Ms Knowles.

This is not the group’s first etiquette workshop, and Ms Knowles said they are excited to have stepped this particular workshop up a notch since their last. She said they are certain that all registrants will have a grand time.

For her, it is a great feeling to know that she is able to create an event such as this to share a wealth of knowledge with so many young women.

“I was motivated to host such an event by being tired of seeing too many of our young ladies and their mothers not being able to function at a dining table,” said Ms Knowles.

“In our society now most young ladies and their mothers are so caught up in the materialistic world that once they’re all ‘dolled-up’ they don’t know how to have a mature conversation, how to use dining utensils, how to sit at a table, and most of all, how to dress on occasions. After realising that our nation needs help, this is where I step in. Instead of complaining as most do, I decided to do something about it. And if I only reach one young lady, I am thankful that her life has changed and she will be able to change another.”

She said an event such as the etiquette workshop is vitally important for young Bahamian girls so that they can learn what is right in their personal lives and in social, business and formal dining settings, and to also begin understanding the royal lady they are that God created. Ms Knowles said when a woman is confident in her environment she shines.

“I see the Royal Lady etiquette workshop already rising on an international scale, as we, the Sapphire International Girls Club, are going to not only go into our local schools, but will also take this to our Family Islands and throughout the world.”