Fourteen years ago, Kimone Quarrie’s world turned upside down. At just 16, the Convent of Mercy Academy student found herself pregnant and forced to leave school, with her dreams seemingly shattered.
Suddenly, Quarrie was a teenage mother. But instead of letting her circumstances define her, she fought back. She was determined to rewrite her story.
“I went to the Women’s Centre to do three subjects, but was unsuccessful. Then I went to EXED (Excelsior Community College) to try again and only passed one,” she recalled. “Juggling CXC and a baby was very tough.”
Just when things seemed hopeless, she stumbled upon an opportunity that would change everything — the Starbucks YUTE Work project. Launched in Kingston and Montego Bay in April 2018, this life-changing programme was a collaboration between The MultiCare Youth Foundation (MYF), Starbucks, and the HEART/NSTA Trust. Designed to uplift at-risk youth from inner-city communities, it offered training, certification, internships, and mentorship.
Quarrie didn’t hesitate. She was one of the first to sign up, and after successfully completing the programme, she earned a Level II certification in food & beverage from HEART/NSTA Trust. This led to an internship at Starbucks’ New Kingston branch, and the beginning of a journey that would transform her life.
“To get an opportunity to work at Starbucks was very exciting. I learned about the Starbucks way of providing customer service — to wear a genuine smile and be pleasant. I got to show people I was doing something that I loved,” Quarrie shared.
Her passion and hard work didn’t go unnoticed. Five years later, Quarrie is now a shift supervisor at Starbucks’ Red Hills branch, leading by example and mentoring new interns who walk the same path she once did.
“When I see other interns get the chance to work with us, I feel good. Knowing that I started as an intern, I realise that my experience can make a difference in their lives,” Quarrie said proudly. Inspired by her journey, she’s even launched her own mentorship programme to help junior baristas thrive.
Today, Quarrie is not just a success story–she’s a beacon of hope. “I am now able to provide for my 13-year-old daughter, and I know she is proud of me. She sees me as proof that there is life after domestic violence and teenage pregnancy,” Quarrie reflected.
Grateful for the support she received, Quarrie has a message for The MultiCare Youth Foundation: “Keep doing what you’re doing, because there are more like me out there who need guidance and support.”
