Georgetown, Guyana – (September26, 2015) First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, earlier this evening, held an interactive session with women from the Guyanese diaspora in Brooklyn. During the meeting, which was held at Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, Mrs. Granger detailed some of priority areas of work, which she will be embarking on in the near future.

Mrs. Granger was greeted by a packed audience and laid out her plans as well as highlighted some of the work she has already started. The First Lady shared with the audience her plans for, working to raise awareness on adolescent sexual health, the effects of teenage pregnancy and most importantly ensuring a more educated nation. Speaking on the issue of adolescent sexual health, the First Lady said she is of the view hat more needs to be done in terms of legislation and raising awareness among young adolescents on the negative effects this has on an individual and their family and the State.

As a mother and a grand mother, the First Lady said things of this nature and other issues that are closely related, including trafficking in persons of young girls and statutory rape, bothers her deeply. It is for this reason she said she will use her office effectively in dealing with these matters.

Speaking on the topic of education, Mrs. Granger said she deems education as the key to a nation’s development and success. Quoting Pakistani activist for female education, Malala Yousafzai, who addressed the General Assembly during the opening ceremony on September 25, Mrs Granger said, “Education is hope, Education is development”.

While acknowledging the fact that there is still a lot more that needs to be done to improve the local education system, the First Lady said whatever can be done through her office will be done. She noted that while a pilot project has already started in Buxton, her office will be looking at the possibility of getting the project running in other communities.

Meanwhile, the First Lady’s message was well received and her initiatives have already garnered the support of the diaspora as many in attendance offered to help expand some of her ongoing projects, including the recently launched ICT project in Buxton and the remedial classes. Mrs. Granger is in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly Summit with President Granger.

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