The Tribune

CONTINUED education for teenage mothers has received another push, as Providing Access to Continued Education (PACE) officially opened the doors of its new centre on East Street to members of the public.

The beginnings of the PACE programme can be found in an initiative by the Ministry of Health which was led by community nurse and social counsellor Andrea Elizabeth Archer in 1969.

She introduced the Student Mother Clinic in 1970, which catered mostly to the needs of teenagers who had to stop their education due to unplanned pregnancy. The Zonta Club of Nassau officially formed the PACE Foundation in 2004 to provide institutional strengthening to the programme created by the Student Mother Clinic and to see the provision of a purpose-built facility.

Currently, PACE is the combined efforts of voluntary organisations and the government of the Bahamas with three ministries – the Ministry of Education, Science and Technlogy, the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Social Services – having responsibilities for education, health and social well-being of the teen mothers.

PACE’s mission is to inspire hope and inspiration to counter the occurrence of teenage pregnancies within the Bahamas. The teen mothers are given an opportunity to complete high school as well as to learn a skill. They are also mentored and guided in an effort to reduce incidences of repeat pregnancy.

Since the establishment of the PACE programme in 1969, more than 3,000 teenage mothers have been assisted and an additional 100 annually will continue to benefit from the services offered. 

Over the years, many organisations have lent their support and made the work of PACE possible, including the Sandals Foundation, Coca-Cola, Rotary Club of East Nassau, First Caribbean, the Salvation Army, Kiwanis International, Scotia Bank, RBC, among others.

Sonia Brown, president of PACE, in her address at the opening ceremony said: “The tipping point for PACE was when Sandals Foundation came along to give us an extra push especially in fundraising towards the new building.”

Since 2012, the Sandals Foundation has contributed more than $300,000 through partnerships with Coca Cola and through multiple fundraising efforts. including the hosting of two ‘Vibes on the Island’ concerts.

Heidi Clarke, director of the Sandals Foundation, added: “These young ladies are at a point in their lives where they need a lot of support and the services offered at PACE not only ensure an opportunity for a brighter future for these teenage mothers, but also their children and generations to come. We look forward to continued partnerships to give all young people in the Caribbean an opportunity to succeed.”