The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

ENSURING that “no girl is left behind”, a local non-profit organisation, Sisters of Strength, is raising the bar to empower young women to lead change in the Bahamas.

Based in Grand Bahama, Sisters of Strength is a professional development programme for young ladies with the aim of raising awareness of social issues through educational seminars, conferences and girl talk sessions that support and empower young women to be confident, assertive and productive contributing members of society.

The organisation believes all girls should be able to have ambitious aspirations, discover their self-worth and their capacity to shape their own world.

Founded in 2013 by Chevonia McBride, the Sisters of Strength team of professionals includes persons like Ciora Nixon, Davina Rutherford, Bronell DaGama, Dr Paulisa Ward and Sabrina Brown, who sits on the executive board, with Evangeline Outten and Rosemary Martin as directors.

After years of observing various the problems when it comes to living as a woman in the modern world, Ms McBride said she put together a programme which not only prepares young ladies to become better professionals in professional fields, but one that is also centered on the importance of having a healthy self-esteem. At first she wanted to create a programme to assist more mature women, but later changed her focus to the younger generation.

“Preparing the next generation is imperative. It is my vision to see more confident, assertive, God-fearing, disciplined and entrepreneurially-minded Bahamian young women taking their rightful place in society,” said Ms McBride.

“I want them not to just be admired for their beauty and physical appearances, but respected for their minds and ambitions.”

Service above self is nothing new to Ms McBride. As a past executive board member of Rotaract, the youth arm of Rotary International, she became used to helping meet the needs of others. She also gives credit to a person that was always there to show her the way and to motivate her, her mother, Evangeline Outten.

“My mother is a woman of virtue, godly principals and integrity. Growing up wasn’t always easy as she embraced her role as both mother and father to five children at the time, but her courage, perseverance and strength always stood out,” Ms McBride said.

“She rules with a mighty fist, but her love is unwavering, unconditional and never changing. She taught me how important it is to always give back, whether in a monetary way, in education or just in time to someone, because my blessing was to bless and uplift another. She taught me that God blesses us to be a blessing to others, and that manners and respect will take you around the world, and indeed I have grown to see the manifestation in my life. My mother is my strength, my mentor, my motivator and my backbone.”

An entrepreneur at heart, Ms McBride managed a small family business called A Social Affair for six years before branching out to establish her very own business called, Fabulocity Hair and Accessories.

Sisters of Strength is working to provide an internship programme for qualifying young women to gain professional experience in their respective fields. The organisation also wants to continue awarding scholarships for the growth and development of young women.

In celebration of Youth Month, Sisters of Strength, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, will host a Youth Empowerment Expo under the theme, “Be Bold, Be Beautiful, Be You” on Friday, October 23, at the Grand Lucayan, from 10am to 3pm for young ladies between the ages of 12 and 18.

This year’s conference will be hosted by Yandy Smith-Harris’ EGL Partners Uplifting our Daughters Organisation. Yandy Smith is an American entrepreneur, television/movie producer, talent manager, TV personality, owner/CMO of Everything Girls Love LLC and a philanthropist/motivational speaker.

All conferences and seminars hosted by Sisters of Strength are free of charge.