$49.7M injected in Hinterland Regions Human Services’ Empowerment fund

$49.7M has been injected to the Hinterland communities from the Human Services and Social
Security Ministry’s ‘Empowerment Fund.’
It was revealed that the Empowerment Fund is a collaborative effort between the Ministry and
World Food Programme (WFP) which seeks to aid potential business owners in expanding or
starting up with $50,000 and has seen 995 persons from these communities benefitting to date. It
was noted that Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) had the largest number of beneficiaries with
some 367 across two phases. 245 recipients came from Barima-Waini (Region One) in
Moraikobai (76), Mabaruma (73), Baramita (72) and Port Kaituma (24). Meanwhile, Potaro-
Siparuni (Region Eight) and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) had 192 and 191
recipients respectively.

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud noted, “The Ministry has
committed to empowering women across the country and we have managed to do so in a very
significant way through the collaboration between WFP and the Ministry, utilizing the WIIN
programme where women have been trained respectively”. “The Ministry has committed to
empowering women across the country and we have managed to do so in a very significant way
through the collaboration WFP and the Ministry, utilizing the WIIN programme where women
have been trained.  I was very heartened to listen women say they had plans to start their own
businesses so the cash grants given were perfect stimuli for them to help in beginning their
businesses. We forward to tracking those women to see what improvements they would have
made towards their own income and towards helping them to sustain their businesses,” Minister
Persaud said,
“In the Hinterland where just under 1000 women benefited from this stimulus grant was no
insignificant achievement and I will continue to ensure that we have more fruitful partnerships
and also directly through the Ministry which focus on women empowerment,” she added.
Mahendra Budhram, Project Coordinator, said the Hinterland Regions showed good responses
with an inspiring collection rate.
“It is heartwarming to see persons coming out to receive this grant because they can now take the
next step of starting to develop themselves and putting the money towards a business that they
would have wanted to embark on,” Budhram explained. It was pointed out that among the
youngest of recipients was 12-year-old Baramita resident, Ashanna Fredericks who completed
the computer studies training where she was proficient in Microsoft Office. With the grant, she
explained that she plans to buy a laptop and a printer to open a document center in her
community.
Also, Paramakatoi’s Val Ann Edwin, 27 years old, disclosed that she applied for the
cosmetology course because there is no existing service of this nature in the community and sees
the potential this business has in the remote municipal. Additionally, Claudia Fraser, activist
against trafficking in persons, who recently returned from Venezuela explained she completed
courses in nail technician and hair styling and will look to buy supplies for her business while
providing a safe space for women in Port Kaituma.