The Grace & Staff Community Development Foundation (Grace & Staff), in partnership with the Westmoreland Youth Innovation Centre, the Women’s Centre of Jamaica, and Hotel Riu Negril, successfully conducted their second “Youth Advancement Through Parenting Education” workshop from November 8 to 10 in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland.

The three-day workshop welcomed 30 participants and covered important topics such as how to deal with trauma, how to manage finances, how to co-parent effectively, and how to provide first aid. The training gave young parents the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood.

Sandrina Davis, CEO of Grace & Staff, explained, “The workshop is part of our Foundation’s commitment to fostering community development and support for young families. It provides a proactive platform for young parents to gain the confidence and competence needed to raise the next generation.”

She continued, “Empowering young parents with the tools to successfully manage the challenges of raising children is at the heart of building strong families and ultimately strong communities. We believe that when we support parents, we create a ripple effect of benefits for children and, by extension, our society.”

Grace & Staff’s workshop partners also expressed their commitment to empowering young parents and building a stronger community.

Donmarie Latouche, Youth Empowerment Officer at the Westmoreland Youth Innovation Centre, highlighted the transformative power of education; while Mellissa Boothe-Anderson, Centre Manager for Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation Savanna-la-mar, emphasized the importance of equipping teen mothers with life skills. Paola Garcia, General Manager of Hotel Riu Negril, reaffirmed the hotel’s dedication to community outreach and investing in the future of Westmoreland parish.