The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) is preparing to open a new facility dedicated to supporting teenage mothers in St Catherine. The announcement was made by Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, who highlighted the need for such a centre in the rapidly growing parish. “St Catherine is experiencing rapid population growth, and it’s crucial that we provide support for our teenage mothers in this area,” Grange stated.
The announcement coincided with a handover ceremony for a wellness bench, donated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which was presented to the WCJF at their Kingston office. Minister Grange took the opportunity to praise the WCJF for its ongoing commitment to helping teenage mothers, particularly through educational support and informed decision-making.
Over the past decade, the WCJF has maintained a repeat pregnancy rate of below two percent, a testament to the foundation’s effective programs. Currently, the WCJF supports approximately 500 adolescent mothers across Jamaica. Grange emphasized the importance of the new centre in St Catherine, saying, “This centre is vital for our young women, especially those whose progress was interrupted by teenage pregnancy. We commend the foundation for its impressive track record in fostering successful young women.”
A key initiative under the WCJF, the Adolescent Mothers Programme, targets girls aged 17 and under who are pregnant. The program offers them the chance to continue their education at WCJF centres for a term, after which they are reintegrated into the formal school system post-childbirth.
