Minister Moxey praises the work of VOPE, a girl’s mentoring program in Grand Bahama

Minister Moxey praises the work of VOPE, a girl's mentoring program in Grand Bahama

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas -- Offering congratulations for the work in the upliftment and mentoring of girls and young women in Grand Bahama, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey said what the Vessels of Purpose Elite (VOPE) has accomplished in ten years has been extraordinary.

"And as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. The proof lies in the decade of service [to] the girls whose potential was unlocked and whose lives were transformed by this program," said Minister Moxey, who was the keynote speaker at a ten-year celebration for VOPE, on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Pelican Bay Resort.

Vessels of Purpose Elite (VOPE) was Founded by Mrs. Brennamae Rolle-Cooper in 2014, with the goal of mentoring girls in a variety of disciplines, inclusive of financial literacy, etiquette, CPR, self-defense, spelling competitions and fund-raising initiatives. Mentors within the program came from varied backgrounds, expertise and experiences to help girls in Grand Bahama navigate the issues of life, career, family and find their respective "God-given" purpose in life.

Minister Moxey paid homage to the Founders and Mentors of VOPE for their unwavering commitment to the program; and ten of the mentors were honored by the organization for the work they've done in helping VOPE achieve its goals over the years.

"Each of you willingly embraced the opportunity to serve our community," she told the mentors and honorees on Sunday night. "You are transformational leaders who understand the importance of guiding our young girls on a journey to discovering their strengths and unlocking their potential so that they can navigate life with confidence and purpose.

"I cannot emphasize enough how necessary your role is in the development of women in our society and the future of The Bahamas."

Minister Moxey reflected on a recent visit she had with Reverend Ruby Ann Darling, a Bahamian woman known as a barrier breaker. Rev. Darling was the first woman to register to vote in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the second woman ever to be elected to the House of Assembly, and a woman whom Minister Moxey said she deeply admired.

"It was a privilege to spend time with a legend who changed the lives of thousands of Bahamian women," said the Grand Bahama Minister. "The hard work and determination of the Suffragettes motivated a then 20-year-old Ruby Ann Cooper to rise to the occasion and seize the moment her female counterparts tirelessly fought for - the right for Bahamian women to vote. The rest is well-documented in our nation's history.

"Mentors, honorees, God has entrusted you with a sacred assignment. As I reflect on the past under the theme 'celebrating the past, embracing the future', I encourage you to recognize that countless success stories have been written and documented over the past ten years because of you.

"Your efforts have shaped the lives of the girls who have entered this program. You've contributed to their evolution from girls to young women, with the hope and dream of becoming entrepreneurs, scholars, mothers and change makers who will lead in business, technology, education, the arts and advocacy.

"You've prepared them to rise above challenges, shatter barriers and embrace their power. Through various workshops, life lessons and shared experiences, they have learned not only to navigate the complexities of life, but to uplift each other. To be each other's champions. And to foster a spirit of unity that transcends generations."

Minister Moxey pointed out that the heart of Sunday night's celebration wasn't just about the achievements, but more about the journey. A journey, she added, that has taught girls and young women about the importance of community, resilience and sisterhood. She was confident that someday a few of the girls who have passed through the program would hopefully one day return to Vessels of Purpose Elite to mentor the next generation of Bahamian girls, paying forward the wisdom, love and guidance they have received from their present mentors.

FOUNDERS AND MENTORS - Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey (seated center) joined the Founders and Mentors of Vessels of Purpose Elite (VOPE) for a photograph during a celebration at Pelican Bay Resort on Sunday, September 29, 2024 for ten years of VOPE, mentoring girls and young women in Grand Bahama. Founder of VOPE, Mrs. Brennamae Rolle-Cooper is seated at the right of Minister Moxey and Chairman of the organization, Mr. Othyniel Pinder is seated at the left of Minister Moxey.

CUTTING ANNIVERSARY CAKE - Minister Ginger Moxey joins Founder, Brennamae Rolle-Cooper (right) and Chairman, Othyniel Pinder (left) of Vessels of Purpose Elite (VOPE) for the cutting of the cake in celebration of ten years of mentoring girls and young women in Grand Bahama, during a ten-year anniversary celebration at Pelican Bay Resort on Sunday, September 29th, 2024.

(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)