Girls on Fire Programme Empowers 17 Vincentian Teens 

By S.Browne. Updated 10:49 a.m., Friday, July 24, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Seventeen teenage girls have completed the 2026 Girls on Fire Summer Programme, with organisers saying the week-long initiative equipped participants with greater confidence, leadership skills and practical knowledge to help them navigate adolescence and prepare for the future.

Hosted by Soroptimist International St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SISVG) from July 13 to 17, 2026, 2under the theme “Ignite Your Future”, the programme brought together girls aged 13 to 16 for interactive sessions focused on voice, agency and leadership.

Girls on Fire has been a feature of SISVG’s youth development efforts for several years. The programme, which has evolved over time to address issues affecting adolescent girls, focuses on building confidence, leadership skills and personal development through education and mentorship.

Throughout the five-day programme, participants explored topics including body confidence, menstrual health, healthy relationships, cyber safety, goal setting, public speaking and leadership. They also participated in creative activities designed to foster teamwork and self-expression before concluding the programme with a visit to the Children’s Ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where they donated books and toys and shared the joy of reading with young patients.

SISVG President Shannon Samuel said the programme is designed to equip girls with the confidence and knowledge needed to become future leaders.

“Girls on Fire is more than a summer programme, it is an investment in the future of our nation. We believe that when girls are equipped with knowledge, confidence and positive role models, they are empowered to make informed decisions, overcome challenges and become leaders in their families, schools and communities. Watching these young ladies grow over five days has been truly inspiring.”

One parent also praised the programme’s immediate impact on her daughter.

“This programme has truly opened my teenager’s eyes to the world around her. Since coming home each day, she hasn’t stopped talking about what she learned, especially the sessions on menstrual health and cybercrime. As a parent, I know these are conversations that will help her make wiser decisions and protect herself in the future.”

Samuel also thanked the programme’s facilitators and partners, including the SVG Association of Endometriosis, Adenomyosis and PCOS Inc., the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, educators, counsellors, journalists, entrepreneurs, psychologists, fellow Soroptimists and volunteers whose expertise and dedication contributed to the programme’s success.

As part of this year’s programme, participants benefited from sessions covering body confidence, menstrual health, healthy relationships, cyber safety, goal setting, public speaking and leadership before putting those lessons into practice through community service at the Children’s Ward of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

SISVG said it remains committed to empowering women and girls through education, advocacy and service, with Girls on Fire continuing to serve as one of the organisation’s flagship youth development initiatives.

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