WIIN trained over 3000 women for this year

Over 3000 women will be trained by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, through the Women Innovation, Investment Network (WIIN) programme, which is over 800 more than those who were trained in 2021.

It was revealed that the WIIN initiative, which is the brainchild of the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, provides women with the tools for financial stability and self-employment. It was disclosed that gender inequality and access to equal job opportunities for women have been issues that the ministry is committed to addressing. As such, the WIIN programme is free of cost, and readily accessible to women across the country.

Dr. Persaud during an outreach to Regions Five and Six, on Friday, noted that the WIIN programme will allow women to create opportunities to establish and develop their own businesses. “We want to teach you to create opportunities, we want to teach you to become entrepreneurs, we want to teach you how to start your own business, how to grow your own business, and how you can sustain your own business,” minister Persaud said.

The minister noted that while in the regions, she launched phase two of the WIIN programme, which is its business clinic to ensure persons have access to the necessary resources and training to “become their own boss.” It was revealed that many persons registered for the business clinic workshop. This, it was said saw partners like the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), among others, ensuring that women can have access to the relevant documentation in order to start their businesses.

Further, after the completion of phase two of the WIIN training programme, the ministry has also put measures in place to ensure women can be assisted with funding to boost or start their business. Minister Persaud pointed out that over 3, 000 women have received $50, 000 cash grants, as a stimulus to start their business, since the launch of the business clinic. She stressed the ministry will continue to work towards allocating more money for this significant initiative.

“We have to start thinking creatively about how we can utilise the skills we have, to fill the niche that exists in our Region, what are the things that are missing, how can you fill those gaps, how can you provide services and how can you provide it cost-effectively [and] efficiently,” she promised. The minister, issued an appeal encouraging women not to stop there, but to access the female business incubator and App, which is geared towards advertising women-owned businesses in Guyana.

Minister Persaud explained that the incubator will ensure women are “on their feet” and provides assistance where needed. She disclosed that since its launch in August, 2021, over 700 women have benefitted. Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud during her visit spearheaded a number of teams from the ministry to deal with issues including; gender affairs, child care and protection, pension and public service.

Further, a team from the Gender Affairs Bureau of the ministry held sessions with residents, which focused on forming and expanding men and women’s groups in both regions. Minister Persaud said that these groups, will be provided with training and services in a number of areas such as, anger management, conflict resolution, domestic violence, among others.

She added also, that a number of persons living with disabilities were given support.