Girls of Impact Celebrates Cohort 4 of Accelerate Her Mentorship Programme
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
29 August 2026
Girls of Impact Trinidad and Tobago celebrated the culmination of its flagship Accelerate Her Career Mentorship Programme: Cohort 4 with a graduation ceremony held on Saturday, 29 August 2026 at the MIC Institute of Technology, Macoya.
The graduation marked the completion of an intensive eight-week development journey designed to equip young women with the mentorship, skills, networks and confidence needed to navigate their personal and professional lives and become impactful leaders within their communities.
The 2026 programme targeted 40 young women from across Trinidad and Tobago and combined structured mentorship with personal development workshops, a Career Summit and Community Impact Projects. With the support of the Tobago House of Assembly through the Youth Energized for Success (YES) Programme, young women from Tobago were also able to participate in the programme, strengthening Accelerate Her’s national reach.
The graduation ceremony brought together graduates, mentors, programme partners, sponsors, members of the Girls of Impact team and specially invited guests to celebrate the achievements and development of Cohort 4.
Among those in attendance was the Honourable Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, who congratulated the graduates on completing the programme and encouraged them to approach the next chapter of their lives with confidence and purpose.
In her remarks, Minister Mohit wished the young women courage in new beginnings, wisdom in every decision and success in whatever path they choose. She encouraged the graduates to lead with compassion and, importantly, to never forget their worth.
A Message of Sisterhood, Courage and Using Your Voice
The graduation’s featured address was delivered by Charlene Pedro, leadership and women’s empowerment coach, who challenged the graduates to think intentionally about the relationships and communities they build around themselves.
Pedro reminded the young women that sisterhood can be about much more than gossip or casual friendship. She encouraged them to periodically “spring clean” their friendships and circles, surrounding themselves with people who contribute positively to their growth and development.
She also delivered a powerful reminder to the graduates to continue speaking up and occupying space, emphasising that their voices deserve to be heard.
The messages shared throughout the ceremony reflected the wider philosophy of Accelerate Her: that the end of the programme is not the end of the participants’ development, but the beginning of a longer journey of leadership, service, sisterhood and personal growth.
Eight Weeks of Development and Impact
Throughout the eight-week programme, participants were paired with mentors and engaged in a series of personal and professional development activities designed to prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
Workshops explored areas including social impact, entrepreneurship and innovation, financial literacy, personal wellness and navigating the digital world.
Participants also attended the Accelerate Her Career Summit, where young women were exposed to practical career-development sessions and interactive professional labs, including résumé reviews, mock interviews, professional styling and grooming, and professional headshots.
A key component of the programme was its Community Impact Projects, which challenged participants to move beyond learning and put leadership into practice. Working in teams across Trinidad and Tobago, mentees identified community needs and collaborated to develop and execute projects that created tangible impact.
Through this approach, Accelerate Her continues to reinforce Girls of Impact’s belief that young women should not only be prepared to succeed personally and professionally, but should also be equipped to contribute meaningfully to the communities around them.
Four Cohorts of Accelerating Young Women’s Potential
Now in its fourth cohort, Accelerate Her has become one of Girls of Impact’s signature initiatives for the development of young women in Trinidad and Tobago.
The programme is built around the understanding that mentorship, access to networks, practical skills and opportunities for leadership can play a transformative role in a young woman’s development.
Girls of Impact extends its sincere appreciation to the mentors, facilitators, volunteers, sponsors, partners and supporters who contributed to the success of Cohort 4, including the Tobago House of Assembly and the Youth Energized for Success (YES) Programme, whose support helped ensure that young women from Tobago were represented and able to benefit from the programme.
As Cohort 4 graduates move forward, Girls of Impact encourages each young woman to continue investing in her development, building meaningful relationships, serving her community and using her voice to create change.
Accelerate Her may have concluded, but for Cohort 4, the journey is only beginning.
About Girls of Impact
Girls of Impact Trinidad and Tobago is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young women and girls through leadership development, mentorship, education, advocacy and community engagement. Since its establishment in 2022, the organisation has created programmes and opportunities that equip young women with the skills, networks and confidence needed to lead, serve and create meaningful impact in Trinidad and Tobago and beyond.
END
