In recognition of International Women’s Day 2024, representatives of International Game Technology (IGT) empowered young women with care packages to five of its After School Advantage (ASA) recipients across Jamaica: Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF), Spanish Town, Mandeville, Savanna la Mar, St. Ann’s Bay and Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) Mary’s Child.   

IGT general manager Debbie Green and her team donated care packages to teen mothers at the WCJF and MSC Mary’s Child and delivered messages of encouragement and inspiration on February 29.

Both establishments are recipients of IGT’s ASA programme, IGT’s flagship community initiative that provides access to digital resources to assist students with homework and research after school hours.

Green urged the young women to instill high self-esteem in themselves.

“Remember that every obstacle you face will not be forever, as hard as it seems. Love your children; they might be hard to deal with. Show them love, no matter what. Tell them that you love them. Tell them they can be whatever they want to be, despite the challenges,” she said.

The care packages included items requested by the organisations to help with newborn/infant care including baby formula, cereal, diapers, baby wipes, blankets as well as other items. They were distributed at the headquarters of the WCJF on Trafalgar Road, and at MSC Mary’s Child in Papine.

Novelette Howell, interim executive director of the WCJF, was overwhelmed by the generous donation, and the empowering spirit in which it was given.

“Let me extend thanks and appreciation for IGT’s many gifts over the years. We can’t do this without you, and so we seek this type of partnership. We feel the love coming from the partnership,” she noted.

Nadia Williams, administrator at MSC Mary’s Child, also expressed heartfelt gratitude, recognising that the donation reflected a deeper commitment by IGT.

“Your partnership means the world to us at Mary’s Child. The positive change and hope you’re fostering in our community are beyond words. Your commitment to making a difference is truly appreciated,” said Williams.

To date, the WCJF’s Programme for Adolescent Mothers has served 46,000 teen mothers, many of whom have completed their secondary studies.

IGT has partnered with WCJF for 10 years since September 2014. MSC Mary’s Child is a residential facility for teenage girls and their babies, established in 1992 that provides training in life-enabling skills and educational opportunities.

The gaming company has partnered with Mary’s Child for over eight years, since May 2016.