– to provide entrepreneurship training for 37 persons
First Lady Sandra Granger on Monday opened the 27th Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop in Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara; where, over the next five days, 37 participants will be given the necessary wherewithal to set up their own businesses or expand existing ones.
The training is being held at the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
First Lady Sandra Granger along with facilitators, coordinators and participants of the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop held in Ann’s Grove
In her remarks, the First Lady told the participants that attendance along with full participation throughout the duration of the training is the key to them successfully completing the programme and garnering a certificate which is recognised by the Small Business Bureau of the Ministry of Business.
She urged participants to register their businesses and to maintain standards of professionalism and integrity in their day-to- day business operations.
“Part of this is to make sure you are confident enough to set up and manage your own businesses…and part of how you manage your business is how you manage people… You have to know how to deal with your customers,” Mrs. Granger said.
She told the participants that the idea of having a workshop in Ann’s Grove was suggested by former Minister of Social Protection, the current Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence. “It empowers women, it encourages them. You don’t only learn how to run a business, but you also learn to keep your accounts, you learn the importance of yourself, in your family and in your community. So this is why it is called the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop. Many of you know that part of self-reliance is that you have your own money in your pocket; so this is what this workshop will teach you at the most basic level,” she said.
The First Lady then informed that men have also participated and graduated from the workshop, although it is specifically geared at empowering women, to help them create, manage and grow their own businesses.
“I mean, we are a fair-minded, equality-conscious people, and any male that has asked to join has been welcomed and has ended up learning a lot more with a group of women,” she said.
Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Chairperson Genevieve Allen, in her brief remarks, congratulated the participants on taking a bold step to empower themselves. She reminded them that they would be given the skills and techniques that would allow them to formulate plans for their ventures and enable them to become empowered, independent and prosperous residents of their communities.
“What I particularly like about this programme is that it will not only help you to promote yourself as business persons, but it will allow you to become a rounded individual. It will also allow you to identify areas within your community where improvements are needed, and that is the aspect that I am looking forward to,” she said.
Meanwhile, Director of Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Sanjay Yohann Pooran, provided the participants with an overview of the programme. He indicated that the workshop would educate them on how to start, manage, and grow small businesses; help them to lead balanced lives, and provide them with the opportunity to give back to their community with the formulation of a community action plan.
Since its launch, a total of 1030 persons have been trained under this initiative, of which 50 were trained to become trainers.
