“When a woman’s economical standing improves, her family’s standing improves” – First Lady
First Lady Sandra Granger has launched the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop in the town of
First Lady Sandra Granger with the facilitators and participants of the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop
Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) via which more than 25 women will over the next week benefit from training that is expected to help improve their business management skills.
During brief remarks on Monday to the group of women in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office, the First Lady said that it was important for women to be able to enhance their business skills, adding that women have many skills that they may not recognise and could be marketable.
“[This workshop] will show you how to be good businesswomen… It will show you how to plan, keep records, look at the market, look at the competition and see how you can get beyond that and create your own niche for yourself, not only how to establish a business but how to grow and expand it,” Mrs Granger said.
Similar workshops have been held in other parts of the country and the First Lady explained that men have approached her wanting to be part of the initiative. However, she said that targeting women has a specific and beneficial purpose.
“When a woman’s economical standing improves, her family’s standing improves,” she said to loud applause from the participants.
Meanwhile, Representative of Interweave Solutions, Yohann Pooran, who is the facilitator of the weeklong training programme, highlighted the key objectives of the workshop. “Success in business is exactly that. We teach you skills that if applied correctly, they can help you improve your circumstances financially by helping you build successful businesses,” he said.
Pooran added that the workshop would explore issues of finance, resource management and packaging, the fundamentals of marketing and why poor attitudes can hurt otherwise potentially successful businesses.
“One must put on a positive construct if you want to achieve success. You can’t have a pessimistic outlook. You have to look at solutions, and a large part of successful businesses is that women entrepreneurs can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall welcomed the initiative, stating that a focus on bettering the business skills of women could have a positive effect on other issues affecting the Region.
“The title of this workshop is very important and it sends a strong message. All of us should be empowered to ensure that the resources that are put into this initiative are put to good use,” the Mayor said.
He added that the business sector within Bartica was not perfect, but if residents put their best foot forward to enhance their skills, key problems could be solved.
“We can make a difference with our positive attitudes by applying ourselves using the principles learned at this workshop to improve our town and our Region,” the Mayor said.
Over the past few months, workshops were also held in Lusignan in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), in Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo) and Region One (Barima–Waini).
