The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SUMMER 2015 has turned out to be an exciting one for 21 young girls who not only got the chance to visit the Governor General, Clifton Heritage National Park and the National Art Gallery, but also learned about self-defence and participated in a pageant that reinforced a message of inner beauty over outer beauty.

Those opportunities were made possible by the Lady’s Chamber, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to touch the lives of Bahamian youth by sowing seeds of value and worth.

The organisation for young girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years is a mentoring programme that caters to the development of the whole individual; to the physical, mental and spiritual growth. It was founded by Latoya Culmer with the aim of bringing hope to each girl enrolled in the programme.

Among the numerous empowering activities, the participating girls engaged in the ‘Pageant of Hope’, hosted by former Miss Georgia Teen USA Jena Sims. The noncompetitive pageant gives children and teens who face serious illnesses and challenges the opportunity to be a prince or princess for a day. The pageant also invites kids of all ages to shine in front of family and friends and be celebrated for who they are.

Ms Sims, who founded the Has Been Beauty Queens (HBBQ) organisation, has taken their message of hope all around the world.

“I thought it important for my girls to participate in this pageant alone because our theme, ‘I know who I am should not just be something they say, but something they experience and ultimately live’,” Ms Culmer of Lady’s Chamber told Tribune Woman.

“I believe confidence and self-esteem is a power tool that will propel these girls into their successful futures, and the pageant was just one of the avenues to prove to them that they are royal and their worth is far above rubies.”

At the end of the pageant, Ms Culmer said each young lady was crowned and draped with a sash that read “Princess”.

“I saw smiles that I had not seen during the beginning of the programme. I saw a quiet, introverted young lady take over the stage because she heard the people cheer. Girls who had very little to say came to me and expressed how they enjoyed the experience so much. This was a self-esteem exercise and I believe it was a successful one because the girls not only took pictures that may be viewed by the world, but they got a chance to truly celebrate themselves just as they are,” she said.

When Ms Culmer started Lady’s Chamber in June 2014, she had the desire to see young lives transformed through the various activities and workshops. She is confident in the organisation’s ability to make an impact on its participants.

“This year I had the opportunity to present 90 per cent of the programme, and though I know that the work is not an overnight experience, I have witnessed the ladies trying to be better, trying to speak properly, trying to help the next girl who may be struggling with an issue or a discipline. I think that it is because of the programme. I am truly thankful to God for giving me the wisdom and the creative idea to reach these talented, intelligent, strong ladies.”

So far the young participants have learned about personal hygiene, physical appearance, sex/family life, self-esteem, healthy skin/hair, grammar and table etiquette.

The Lady’s Chamber summer activities will close out with a talent show as well as a Big Sister Fun Sports Day and awards luncheon.