With a full complement of sponsors and the team of facilitators all set, the FTM Show Love workshop for third and fourth form girls is set to make a hit on October 15, 2015. Photo: VINO

Among those present at the launch activity were Digicel's Katasha Melville and Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Ingrid A. Moses. Photo: VINO

Among the main sponsors addressing the launch activity were ZONTA Club of Tortola represented by President Nona Vanterpool -Bonelli (right) and Office of Gender Affairs represented by Ms Lorolie Conner (left). Photo: VINO

Speaking of the significance of the discussing the topic of Financial Services with the young women Mrs Smith said, “If we want the succeed in financial services and take it to the next level it cannot be done by the government, it cannot be done by the industry, it has to be a holistic approach involving the entire population of the British Virgin Islands, young and old.” Photo: VINO

The seminar is set for Thursday October 15, 2015 and will be held at UP’s Ballroom in Road Town. The topics to be covered are Purpose in life, Social Media, Peer Pressure, Domestic Violence, Prison Life, Anger Management, Leadership skills, How not to write the way you speak, Financial Services and us and Importance of an education.

The launch was held at Maria’s By The Sea and present were a number of the individuals slated to speak at the conference. Among them also were a number of sponsors, including ZONTA Club of Tortola represented by President Nona Vanterpool -Bonelli, Office of Gender Affairs represented by Ms Lorolie Conner, and Digicel represented by Ms Katasha Melville.

Ms Vanterpool-Bonelli expressed her gratitude in once again being a sponsor especially as the seminar target’s young women but said she was even more elated by the fact that ZONTA Club of Tortola will also be represented by two presenters; Attorney At Law Ms Anthea L. Smith and First Lady and Financial Services Specialist Mrs Lorna G. Smith OBE, MA, TEP.

Financial Services

Speaking on the significance of discussing the topic of Financial Services with the young women, Mrs Lorna G. Smith said, “If we want to succeed in financial services and take it to the next level it cannot be done by the government, it cannot be done by the industry, it has to be a holistic approach involving the entire population of the British Virgin Islands, young and old.”

“It’s very important that young persons not only hear what the other people would be telling them about their self-esteem, their values…but it’s also important that as young fourth and fifth formers that people understand that these youngsters understand what are the careers for them,” added Mrs Smith

Mrs Smith used the example of Founder of FTM Mr Craig A. Lake who she said was selected as one of the champions for the cause of Financial Services, noting that he is one of the best that has and continues to be able to get the message across to the youth population.

“These are the people who young people look up to, these are the people who they really talk to, these are the people that can really reach them and can really communicate with them much more effectively than certainly a lot of us can.

Social media issues

Director of Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs Mrs Karia J. Christopher will be presenting on the serious issues surrounding social media and while Mrs Christopher did not speak at the launch, Digicel’s Ms Katasha Melville expressed her company’s take on the topic that deals with technology.

“As we know the internet right now and social media is a big part of persons putting themselves out in a very negative light, creating videos, photos and everything. So having that responsibility to the environment, to the BVI, it is very important for the young ladies especially as they are being featured heavily, to have the tools and to understand the responsibility in using social media and having access to the internet as a whole,” said Ms Melville.

Ms Connor of the Office of Gender Affairs said her department took the decision to forgo its usual seminar and collaborate with FTM so as to give itself an opportunity to reach a larger number of young women. At its seminar last year, the Office of Gender Affairs reached just over a hundred young women. With FTM this year it expects to reach almost three hundred.