116 talented women celebrated as entrepreneur training concludes

The third cohort of participants of the WE3A Strengthening Women Entrepreneurs in Value Chains Initiative recently graduated, contributing to the 116 businesswomen who sought training to advance their company’s potential.
Implemented locally by the Women’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Guyana (WCCIG), the WE3A initiative aims to provide women who own small- and medium-sized businesses in Central and South America with the tools and skills to develop their companies.
The programme is funded by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (WeFi) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Lab), in collaboration with the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University in the United States (US).

WCCIG President, Rowena Elliot extended congratulations to the graduating cohort and expanded on their growth potential.
“We celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the talented women entrepreneurs who have completed the WE3A initiative. To date, 116 women have graduated from the journey since project launch in August 2022. Their dedication, resilience, and unwavering spirit inspire us all,” Elliot said.
“This graduation underscores the pivotal role that empowered women play in shaping the economic landscape of Guyana and beyond. The success of the WE3A initiative highlights the potential that lies within our women-led small- and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs), and we are excited to witness the lasting impact they will create,” Elliot added.
The WE3A initiative’s core components of Aspire, Activate and Accelerate form the basis for which participants gain valuable training materials and resources to enhance their entrepreneurial acumen.
Using Thunderbird’s Dreambuilder programme, a free online training and certification programme, participants are encouraged to foster a dynamic learning environment and build a network that spans borders and industries.
A study published in April by the WE3A initiative found that at 91 per cent, Guyana has the largest number of formally registered women-owned businesses, compared to the other participating countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
Despite this, the study confirmed that there is room for improvement in access to capital funding for business projects, access to training and education on business management, and access to business infrastructure for companies in the country.
As the WE3A moves to build the capacity of these businesses, the initiative is seeking new applicants for the next 12 months, encouraging all women entrepreneurs and businesswomen to register to partake in the free programme.
“The initiative’s commitment to fostering growth, resilience, and collaboration among women entrepreneurs serves as a testament to the power of collective action. The accomplishments of these graduates resonate beyond the confines of their individual businesses, contributing to the socioeconomic progress of the nation,” a WE3A initiative statement read.
Persons interested in applying or learning more about the programme can visit https://we3a.org/ or email [email protected].