Introducing Laurel House

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We started a feature on Laurel House last Sunday on a house dedicated to young women who aged out of Ranfurly Home. Continuing today, since the renovation of the guest house, now named Laurel House, the young women have privacy and more independence. Young women can stay two years at Laurel House, during which Cancino works to teach them life skills like budgeting, opening a bank account, navigating public transport, job interview skills, and bill paying.

Cansino says she got the name for the house from a friend of hers who had planned to come to Nassau to work with orphaned children.

Cancino says that after being orphaned, Laurel worked her way through boarding school and college and became very successful, but that she always looked out for girls in a similar situation to her.

Cancino says her favorite part is seeing Laurel house residents succeed, and enjoy life.

From construction and plumbing companies offering donations in kind, to organizations like the Rotary Club of East Nassau helping with the renovation of the cottage, the Cancinos stress that Laurel House has been the work of a village.

Reporting for Our News, I’m Marlena Leonard.