SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP: MORE WOMEN GAIN BUSINESS LITERACY SKILLS

On Sunday, ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. held a graduation ceremony of women entrepreneurs who successfully completed the Road to Growth and Road to Finance programmes. These programmes were delivered by ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., sponsored by the ExxonMobil Foundation through collaboration with Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Road to Growth and Road to Finance are two of five flagship programmes offered by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Out of 215 applicants of the recently completed Road to Growth programme, 120 women were selected to participate. 116 women officially started the programme, with 96 women having graduated. The Road to Finance training received 58 applications this year of which 47 women commenced the programme, with 42 having graduated. Road to Growth is designed to build the business skills and financial literacy of women entrepreneurs. Road to Finance, developed in 2021, supports ambitious women to build their skills and confidence in order to successfully secure finance, grow their businesses and achieve their potential. Coach Keon Smith, Director of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., commenced the ceremony with opening remarks. Following was Ms. Upasna Mudlier, Co-Facilitator who offered an overview of the course. Ms. Leanne Baker, programme specialist for HerVenture, Cherie Blair Foundation, elaborated on the success of HerVenture and affiliated business support training. Dr. Mathias Terheggen, Chairman, Cherie Blair Foundation, expressed that the Foundation is “an act of partnership,” with gratitude to ExxonMobil Foundation and ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., using mobile technology for business acumen, supporting over 40 women at the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, New Amsterdam in just the past week. Ms. Suzanne De Abreu, Community Relations Manager, ExxonMobil Guyana, reflected on the value ExxonMobil Foundation places on corporate social responsibility of women’s empowerment, and the strategic goal of deploying technological learning which supports women entrepreneurs directly, to financial independence. Mrs. Jane Miller OBE, British High Commissioner, extended three invaluable pieces of advice to the graduates, taking their “seat” among opportunities, selecting a suitable mentor, and changing their mentor where chemistry is lacking. Dr. Alana James, participant of the Road to Finance, reminisced on her participation in the programme, where she encouraged the women entrepreneurs to view their small business as a growing business, and to acknowledge the importance of numerical literacy in maintaining profitability. Honourable Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, urged for women entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in the gratification of their success. She outlined the Global Gender Gap Report 2022 released by the World Economic Forum, where Guyana moved 18 spaces up from 53rd. in 2021 to 35th. among 146 countries. She demonstrated the alignment of the Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) to the brainchild of the Cherie Blair Foundation in exposing women entrepreneurs to business literacy who exchange “creative currency.” Mrs. Davitri Doerga, CEO of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., highlighted the diverse roles of women in society, and encouraged keen attention to evolving consumer taste, and reinvesting into businesses, and to participate in the upcoming Road to Leadership programme.

21 Nov 2022 15:15 | by anaraine