While at its core to enable and encourage women to be actively involved in decision-making processes, the Social Protection Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute on Thursday hosted a workshop in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) under the theme “Enhancing Capabilities and Increasing Choices”.
Speaking at the gathering was Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, who stated that women should be engaged in more prominent roles and the opinions of the region should be echoed for the holistic development of Guyana.
“There is no true democracy without the equal participation of women and men,”
Some of the participants of the engagement in Region Five
were the words of Minister Ally, as she strived to prove her point with respect to the abilities which are buried within women of society.
She mentioned that they should migrate from the mindset that their duties rest only in the domestic aspect of the household, as both genders should be equal in the decision-making process and policy development.
“Women must get involved in the production and manufacturing, even if you have to turn soil and clean the gutters with men too,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade encouraged the women to view the workshop as an addition to their empowerment.
The series of workshops are being conducted by the two entities to evoke the latent leadership qualities and skills that women across Guyana possess so as to create an environment in which all can thrive and uncover their potentials.
On a wider standpoint, the Ministry had produced funds to assist women who wished to establish various businesses via the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) project. This is testimony to the vibrant and thriving village economies that can be created via entrepreneurial activity.
As such, bakeries, fish-processing facilities, sewing groups, poultry farms and other enterprises were established in which women can take advantage of their talent to earn an income. By the end of 2017, 20 SLED projects were created across various communities in Guyana.
