Self-reliance workshop to be scaled up countrywide

First Lady Sandra Granger on Monday launched the first Training of Trainers workshop for 33 selected graduates of the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop, who will now be certified to facilitate such sessions countrywide.
This is aimed at scaling up the reach of the successful programme, which has seen more than 790 small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs benefiting from its empowerment curriculum. The opening ceremony was held at the Regency Suites in Georgetown.

Granger noted that the programme, which is mainly aimed at women but has attracted the participation of some men, was designed to empower communities. “We felt it was necessary to have the Training of Trainers workshop because you are really in the communities… If your peers…know that you have additional training, you should be able to help and give guidance when they encounter some problems while they…set up and manage their businesses. The main focus of this exercise is to put the power in the communities,” the First Lady is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.
She also encouraged the participants to invest themselves fully into the programme.
Senior Facilitator at Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Wayne Barrow told the participants that the programme was a long-term investment.
Barrow urged the participants to avoid lecturing excessively, during their future workshops, and to instead, create an environment for open interaction and brainstorming.
The Training of Trainers programme, which is funded by the Social Protection Ministry, will train a total of 66 women, during two one-week sessions.
This session, the first of its kind, hosted participants from Mabaruma; Matthews Ridge; and Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini); Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Kuru Kururu, Timehri North, Mocha-Arcadia, Sophia, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The second session will be held from November 13 to 17.