The U.S. Embassy Bridgetown celebrated International Day of the Girl Child by joining the global drive to empower and invest in girls. The Embassy donated over USD$4,400 to the Non-Governmental Organization, I AM A GIRL BARBADOS. Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, James Rodriguez, presented the grant for USD $2,500.00 along with over USD $1,900.00 worth of supplies to Alian Ollivierre Skeete, the founder and Executive Director of the organization at a handing over ceremony on October 5, 2018.

The donation is aimed at supporting the NGO’s ‘50 More: Youth Initiative‘, which has evolved into an on-going Ambassadors for Change program for both girls and boys, where capacity building, mentorship, and outreach are continual. The primary goal is for participants to create a positive vision for themselves and their country over the next fifty years.

In his brief remarks, PAO Rodriguez said that the partnership with I Am A Girl Barbados directly supports U.S. Embassy Bridgetown’s goals of reducing youth participation in criminal and violent activities through improved education, life skills, and entrepreneurial development.