11 April 2015
The 2015 Grand Cotillion Ball took place Saturday April 11th, 2015 at the Centurion Conference and Event located on Colonnade Road. The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion Ball event is a formal ball at which young women (ages of 15 to 22) of African or Caribbean descent are presented to the greater community. It is a celebration of the journey that these young women have taken after training and guidance by volunteer mentors who are specialists in the areas of social graces & etiquette, life skills and youth empowerment.
The vision of The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion is a modern combination of the African and Caribbean rites of passages and values creating a valuable and unique experience that emphasize positive social interaction, showing respect to others and increased self-confidence for young women of African and Caribbean decent in an ever changing society. This year youth from the following countries participated in the event: Mali, Haiti, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St.-Lucia, Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago St Vincent & The Grenadines and Malawi.
This was the 3rd anniversary of the Caribbean Cotillion which was celebrated its with a wonderful and engaged group of protégés. The weekly sessions started in January. With the support of various volunteer community mentors, the rotégés learned a variety of life skills that are allowing them to gain an enhanced respect for themselves and more confidence in social situations. The cotillion experience has helped countless young women gain the poise and knowledge needed for all kinds of social events, job and college interviews, national and international travel and ultimately, success in their adult life.
Photo credit: Debbie Miller
