Earlier this month the Governor’s Office in collaboration with the Office of Gender Affairs observed International Day of the Girl on 11th October. The aim of this year’s campaign was to highlight inspirational girls who are helping to drive change locally.
To mark the occasion, the Governor accompanied by Chief of Staff at the Governor’s Office, Mrs Geraldine Ritter Freeman, and Gender Affairs Coordinator, Ms Patricia Hackett, met three motivated young women who are in, or seeking to be, in careers which are often considered male dominated.
Ms. Brianna Brewley age 26 years, who works at Autland Heavy Equpiment Company, where she operates the machinery, Ms. D’Andra Lewis, age 26 years, who is a Boat Captain and the Managing Director of Hidden Points Charter Services and Ms. Nia Davies, age 19 years, who has completed her Associate Degrees in Surveying, Architecture and Construction.
The aim of the meeting was to understand how they arrived in their respective professions, the challenges they face and what more could be done to support other girls in future.
His Excellency Governor John Rankin said ‘It is a privilege to meet inspiring young women and celebrate them as they continue to break barriers and encourage the next generation of girls. Achieving gender equality is integral to resilient economies and strong, free societies – it is the right and smart thing to do’.
Ms Patricia Hackett said “I’m very proud of these young women and commended them for choosing male dominated skills, something that was unheard of many decades ago in the Caribbean. If we are to achieve gender equality, girls and women need to enjoy the same opportunities as men and boys in terms of career choices and education. Office of Gender Affairs will endeavour to play a pivotal role in promoting and encouraging more young women to choose non-traditional skills in the BVI. Mentoring young women would augur well in going forward”.