Over 350 Women to benefit in first of two WIIN in Business Workshop

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry through the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute launched its first WIIN in Business Workshop at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara on Monday, May 19^th.  It was disclosed that the workshop will run for three days, training up and enhancing women entrepreneurs in practical business skills on how to write a business plan, network and access financing. Importantly, the workshop caters to 2021 WIIN graduates, women entrepreneurs, and women-owned businesses and startups.

Human Services and Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, encouraged participants in their pursuit of entrepreneurship and urged them to utilize the practical aspects of the workshop and leave furnished with requisite information and documents to get started. “This is where it gets very exciting, because it is important to look outside of the norms, to find your niche in your community and in the wider country, look for creative ways that your business could provide solutions and services,” the minister said speaking to participants.

Dr. Persaud revealed that the idea of the WIIN in Business Workshops is for women to create their own employment and their own opportunities rather to seek employment in their pursuit to being financially independent. Responding to a question by the minister as if financial stability and independence is what they wanted, the room responded with a unanimous “yes!”. “Once a woman in a home is financially independent, once she is empowered, that home becomes more stable because she is able to provide for her family, she is able to look after herself and she is able to fully understand her inherent potential,” Dr Persaud declared.

The Human Services & Security Minister stressed that WIIN in Business is not just a “talk shop” but a workshop. She revealed that her ministry has partnered with several entities to provide practical guidance on how to create an effective business plan, source financing, and register their businesses. Dr. Persaud pointed out that partners included the Small Business Bureau, Centre for Local Business Development, Guyana Tourism Authority, Nations Incorporated, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank Guyana Limited and Scotiabank Guyana, Guyana Revenue Authority among others.

She revealed that the workshop runs for three days from May 10th – 12th, with a different group of participants each day. She said that approximately 350 women are expected to be trained during these first workshop sessions. The minister noted that an estimated 700 odd participants are registered for the workshop. Dr.. Persaud added that due to this overwhelming response additional workshops are being scheduled to facilitate the high demand and will be announced shortly on the via the Ministry’s social media platforms. She admitted that some of these will be held in other regions based on the applications of interest.