Kiwanis hosts panel discussion to empower teen moms
KINGSTON - Kiwanis International hosted a panel discussion at the Women Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF). The discussion featured guest speaker Lisa Hanna, the former Minister of Youth & Culture. With an audience of mainly WCJF students, Hanna shared her experiences growing up in Jamaica and her advice on success.
Panelist Althea McBean, Dr. Donna Hope and Natalie Lue-Fung all shared their experiences on being adolescent mothers, and the struggles and hardships they faced growing up in a society that shamed and condemned them.
The students had the opportunity to ask questions, many of whom expressed their struggles in facing the criticism, not only from family, but from fellow peers.
“You have to learn to ignore the negativity,” said Lue-Fung.
“Teenagers are one of the meanest people you will ever meet in your life. They will soon grow out of that phase, and mature. But it’s something we all faced, even during our days growing up,” said Dr. Hope.
The Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
