CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – September 28, 2026 – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is scaling up its investment in youth female empowerment through the Department of Gender Affairs, expanding the popular Sisters Leading Ambitious Youth (SLAY) Girls Mentorship Programme to welcome 14 new participants for its second cohort. Under the unifying 2026 theme “Stepping Into Greatness,” the initiative connects emerging young leaders with experienced female mentors to equip them with the tools to build meaningful, successful futures.
First launched in 2025 at Charlestown Secondary School with an inaugural group of eight participants, the programme has grown significantly in its second iteration to include students from both of Nevis’ secondary schools. The new cohort draws 11 participants from Gingerland Secondary School and three from Charlestown Secondary School, each matched one-on-one with a trained local mentor committed to their long-term growth.
The formal launch of the second cohort took place recently at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park, where participants and their mentors were introduced to stakeholders, families, and programme partners. Each young woman was officially inducted into the programme by Deputy Governor General for Nevis Her Honour Hyleeta Liburd O.B.E., M.H., who marked the occasion by pinning commemorative pins on each new mentee.
Honourable Senator Jahnel Nisbett, Nevis’ Minister of Gender Affairs, emphasized that the programme’s core mission is to create intergenerational learning opportunities, allowing young women to draw wisdom from the lived experiences of women who have already navigated key life and career milestones. “This is exactly what the mentors, the program coordinators, the board of directors, this is what everyone has collaborated to do to ensure that you all have the best opportunity to be successful in life in whatever area you choose to pursue,” Nisbett said during the ceremony.
The minister also paid tribute to the volunteer mentors, highlighting the personal and professional sacrifices they make to show up consistently for their mentees. “They’re sacrificing their work, their personal time, their families to commit to showing up for our young ladies each and every single time. So I want to give our mentors a round of applause,” she added.
Delivering the ceremony’s feature address, mentor Kaluwa Maitre-Avril shared heartfelt guidance with the new participants, urging them to embrace their unique identities and recognize their inherent self-worth. “I want my young ladies here to know that there may always be somebody that looks prettier, thinner, taller, may have more Instagram followers on social media, but please understand their greatness certainly does not subtract from yours. We can all be great together. You do not have to become somebody else to be the most extraordinary version of yourself. So, I want you to know your worth before the world agrees with you,” Maitre-Avril said.
She also encouraged participants to reframe their relationship with fear, pushing them to pursue brave actions even when uncertainty arises. “Overcome fear. One of the things that I need you to learn very early is that it’s okay to be afraid, but I don’t want you to fear rejection. Don’t fear looking silly because you took the first step to do something brave. Say, “I am fearless.” Being fearless doesn’t mean that you will never be afraid. On the contrary, you will be afraid but just don’t stay in it and don’t be paralyzed by it.”
Designed to support girls aged 11 to 19 from all social and economic backgrounds, the SLAY programme takes a holistic approach to improving young women’s lives through mentorship, skills training, peer support, and advocacy for gender equity and human rights. Programme activities are carefully crafted to foster deep, meaningful mentor-mentee bonds, boost self-esteem and public speaking skills, strengthen character, and help participants define and work toward their personal and professional goals. Over the course of the programme, participants will take part in a diverse range of activities including one-on-one check-ins, vision board workshops, creative paint-and-sip sessions, community church services, cooking and baking classes, floral arranging workshops, and collaborative team-building exercises.
The Department of Gender Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to the SLAY programme, framing it as a key investment in Nevis’ next generation of female leaders. Through ongoing initiatives like SLAY, the department works to create accessible, supportive spaces where young girls can learn, grow, and develop the confidence and life skills needed to turn their personal aspirations into reality.