Education Ministry gets donation from Ansa McAl to help teenaged mothers

Last Updated on Tuesday, 9 August 2016, 0:23 by Denis Chabrol

Ansa McAl representatives hand over diapers to Ministry of Education representatives. From left to right; Head of School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS unit Janelle Sweatnam, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Delma Nedd along with Ansa Mcal representatives.

In support of the ‘Still I Rise: Reintegration of Teen Mothers in Education’ programme, of which the Ministry of Education is a partner, Ansa McAl Trading Limited (Guyana) on Monday donated baby pampers and wipes to the Ministry of Education.

The donation will be used to help teenaged mothers who are in need of the basic necessities, especially at this point in early motherhood, where they are being reintegrated into the education system, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

On hand to receive the generous donation were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Delma Nedd, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman, and Head of School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS unit, Janelle Sweatnam.

In brief remarks, Nedd explained that the ministry has seen the reintegration of 17 teenaged mothers in Region Four and 14 others in Region Ten to date. Nedd added, “We don’t want young ladies to go and get themselves pregnant, but we want teenaged mothers to know that they are entitled to a second chance.”

Sweatnam reminded the gathering of the programme’s importance, which started in 2014 and has continued to support many. She also extended heartfelt gratitude to Ansa McAl on behalf of the ministry, noting that the contribution will go a long way.

The distribution company’s representative, Joel Lee noted that Ansa McAl has been, and continues to be a part of education development in Guyana, and was happy to be supporting the Ministry of Education in this endeavour.

The reintegration of teenaged mothers into the education system has seen the ministry partnering with various agencies, Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), and the Rotary Club of Guyana among others.