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The Single Mothers’ Advancement and Resilience Training (SMART) Project was launched at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel on Thursday March 9.

One Hundred (100) single mothers with challenges in parenting, academics and technical skills living in high risk and vulnerable communities are expected to benefit from the year-long project.

St. Kitts Nevis Advocacy Consultancy and Training Services SKN ACTS is the implementing organization collaborating with the St Kitts- Nevis National Commission For UNESCO in order to do so.

According to the submission requesting the implementation of the Single Mothers’ Project, current trends in anti social behaviours such as crime are attributed largely to poor or ineffective parenting especially stemming from the high rate of single parent households being managed by females. 

“Our society continues to be plagued with numerous ills including but not limited to teen pregnancy, early initiation of sex, early introduction to and the continued use and abuse of drugs and a myriad of social ills that accompany those behavioural issues,” the project proposal stated.“Single Mothers are forced to make tough decisions due to high cost of living and lingering cases of poverty and are often forced to do extra jobs rather than staying at home with their children”

Project SMART seeks to improve the standard of living of single mothers and their families by promoting healthy lifestyles and empowering them for model parenting. 

Empowerment strategies will include basic English and Mathematics classes, Technical Skills Development; Introduction to Business Skills, Parenting Skills Sessions and Personal Empowerment Sessions (life skills, health tips).

The featured speaker for the event was Ms. Dwynette D. Eversley who is an expert in Strategic Planning, Youth Policy and Women’s Development.