Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
CeCile - file
Women lending a helping hand is the backbone of the Sister to Sister programme which a number of leading female entertainers have taken under their wing.
Jamaica's top female entertainers and personalities have joined hands with the Bureau of Women's Affairs and the Women's Centre Foundation to erect shelters for battered women across the island. Proceeds from a mediathon to be held on Sunday April 13 will go towards building shelters as well as towards the Women's Centre Foundation.
Entertainers involved are actress Leonie Forbes, singers Marcia Griffiths, Etana, Tessanne Chin, Cherine Anderson, Judy Mowatt, deejays CeCile, Queen Ifrica, dub poet Cherry Natural and the Lacadco Dancers. Radio personality Paula Ann Porter is the programme's chairperson, Marcia Griffith and Queen Ifrica are spokespersons while Ce'cile and Etana head the programme's fund raising team.
Dancehall artiste Ce'cile is happy to be involved in the programme. She said "I really felt that we as female artistes need to help not only in raising funds but raising awareness to their plight. We need to be talking against it." Ce'cile was one of many artistes involved that visited the Women's Centre recently and was touched by the different perspectives of the women there. According to Ce'cile, Etana, Queen Ifrica and herself have vowed to make assisting the Women's Centre a continued effort.
The event is being held under the banner of International Women's Day (March 8) under the theme: 'Financing for Gender Equality'. The concert will be staged at the studios of CPTC and broadcast live on various television and radio stations with the target goal being $10 million.
These entertainers have come on board not only to perform but also to provide motivational speeches on issues that affect young women and men of today.
Very enthusiastic
Faith Webster, acting executive director of the Bureau of Women's Affairs told the STAR how the project came about. "Essentially it came about through our International Women's Day programme of activities. Keeping with the theme 'Financing for Gender Equality' the Bureau suggested we put on something under that theme. It was the Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange' who suggested that it would be good to involve the female artistes," she said.
According to Webster the entertainers involved have been instrumental in the process and success of the programme. She explained, "They are very enthusiastic about the whole thing, they have really come to recognise International Women's Day. Their eyes are open to some of the issues concerning the Women's Centre and those of the girls. They are all willing and wanted to come and help. Besides the mediathon they have committed to working with the girls in the centre."
Webster elaborated that there are insufficient funds and means of support for women who find themselves in need of shelter and the problem is one that seriously needs to be addressed. The concert will be a mix of music, dance and poetry and one that is not to be missed.
Both Etana and Queen Ifrica are involved in the Sister to Sister project. - Nathaniel Stewart
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