Dominican women will have yet another opportunity to hear and be inspired by the accomplishments of local and regional female icons when VF inc hosts the fourth Phenomenal Caribbean Women’s Symposium on January 26 at Cabrits, Portsmouth.
Symposium organizer VF Inc’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Valda Henry says since the first symposium back in 2007 there has been a growing interest from the public to participate in the activity.
“The interest this year is even bigger and what is interesting that so far most of the interest has been from completely new people. We have a core of about sixty of seventy women who have not missed any of the past symposiums and we are sure they will be present at this year’s event.”
The symposium is receiving support from the Bureau of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs which has partnered for the second time with VF Inc to host the symposium.
“Last year they collaborated with us for the first time and again they decided to partner with us. We hope they will remain permanent collaborators because they too have added a new dimension because they help choose some of the speakers because they are in contact in so many women. Last year the Ministry was able to bring together a group of women who may not have attended typically. They also assist greatly with transportation,” Dr. Henry said.
Dr. Henry explained that during the symposium, participants will benefit from the life stories of four featured speakers, three of whom have already been confirmed.
She said Dominican business entrepreneur Annette St. Hilaire who was the first female mayor of Roseau and First Caribbean International Bank’s 2011 Unsung Hero, Gloria Walsh will speak at this year’s symposium.
In addition Vincentian Karen Hinds will also seek to inspire Dominican women at the upcoming symposium.
“This year we are going to be mesmerized by Miss Karen Hinds of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who is resident in the United States. She is an interesting choice who received overwhelming recommendations from people from her home country to speak at the Symposium. Interestingly she is planning to hold a similar activity in the form of a youth series in St. Vincent.”
Dr. Henry notes that while the theme for this year’s symposium will remain the same as last year’s: ‘What You Conceive, You Can Achieve Because God Has The Power To Deliver What He Promises’ speakers can base their topics on the theme.
One of the topics chosen will be, “Finding Your Hidden Treasures in Secret Places”.
Women from age 18, for a fee of $300, have been invited to register to participate in the symposium. That fee will cover transportation to and from the Cabrits snacks, lunch, shuttle service. A small token will also be presented to all participants.
The symposium to be held at the Cabrits is expected commence at 8am and will run until 6pm on January 26th.