'Safeguard a child, secure a nation', was the theme for the annual Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday.

A committee of the United Way of Jamaica, WLI was established six years ago by former American ambassador to Jamaica, Sue Cobb.

Chairperson of WLI, Pat Ramsay, gave an update of the various projects/charities the group is involved with and invited everyone present to support the effort, even by reading a book in its recently established reading programme. She informed the gathering it was her last year as chairperson, but announced that she would continue to be a very active supporter.

Though mainly an all-woman affair, guest speaker, special children's advocate from Cayman, Carol Graham, applauded the men who were present, noting that they were half of the solution to protecting children.

Obviously her passion, the 55-year-old charged the gathering to stop doing what doesn't work and attack child abuse in a way that works. She noted that it was everybody's job to protect the sanctity of our children. "Things will change if we stand up and do what needs to be done," she said, stating that the state of a country is measured by the state of its children.

The members of WLI were able to see the fruits of their labour in the form of two mentees form their mentorship programme. The young women were active in the luncheon's programme. Kadene Yen gave the invocation and Shari Ann Henry made a presentation to the guest speaker.

One of the few men at the annual Women's Leadership Initiative Child Month luncheon, Omar Azan, in the company of guest speaker for the function, Carol Graham, and his wife Lezanne Azan. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Megan Deane of Ex-Im Bank pops her cream suit with a colourful scarf.

Tara Nunes is corporate chic.