By NAN Contributor
News Americas, LONDON, England, Mon. Oct. 15, 2018: A Caribbean national has been named among the most recent Commonwealth Points of Light award winners.
St Lucia’s Chelsea Foster, founder of ‘Girls of A Feather,’ a non-profit organization that aims to empower young women and girls, won for her exceptional voluntary service leading mentoring programs for disadvantaged girls.
Since launching the organization in 2013 when she was just 17 years old, Foster has encouraged girls aged 10-18 to discuss the issues that affect them most, including gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and reproductive health.
During their nine-month placements on her flagship ‘Girls with Goals’ mentoring program, the girls are paired up with trained mentors who aim to boost their self-esteem.
Foster also leads projects such as digital skills workshops, recruitment fairs, and tutoring sessions, where the attendee’s accomplishments are celebrated and shared. The St Lucia Government recently named her ‘Youth of the Year’ for her work supporting disadvantaged girls.
“I would like to thank her Majesty The Queen and the British High Commission for recognizing the work and impact that ‘Girls of A Feather’ has had on young women and girls in St Lucia through our voluntary mentorship programs,” Foster said of the award. “It is truly an honour to be receiving the Points of Light award on the group’s behalf and for my country. The receipt of this award is a major incentive and inspiration to continue creating opportunities for volunteers which allow them to become better advocates on gender issues while helping to shape the lives of marginalized youth in their communities.”
