Women across Guyana are motivated to start their own businesses, following the successful completion of the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) “Early Childhood Development” course.
According to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, since 2021, over 3,000 women have been trained in the area of childcare.
The WIIN programme provides women with invaluable, free access to training—opening doors to new skills and economic independence.
Recent graduates under the “Early Childhood Development” programme have expressed optimism about their future goals and shared how they plan to utilise the knowledge and skills garnered.
Cindy Europe, a participant from Region Five, noted that she is focusing on offering night care, since she noticed that there is an existing need in this area.
“I will use the grant to do night care, because as it is at the moment, there’re a lot of day cares but there’s no night care,” she noted.
Europe noted that while it was challenging studying and working, she pushed hard to accomplish her goals.
Another graduate, Cianna Persaud, also gave insight into how she intends to utilise the $100,000 grant which she received in an effort to further enhance her business skills and opportunities.
Persaud received three years of intense training under the “Early Childhood Development” programme.
“The $100,000 grant which was given is going to be a start. There are more persons that I know that are interested in this programme and they would need help. This is a start to put things that we learn into practice,” she said.
To date, over 17,000 women from across the country have been trained in a number of courses, with over 6,000 of these women starting their own businesses.
On Monday, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, met with members of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) in the boardroom of the Private Sector Commission to discuss strengthening collaborative efforts to empower women.
Key programmes highlighted included WIIN, offering critical training and business exposure, and the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU), ensuring vital support for victims.
They also discussed Family Enhancement Services—dedicated to uplifting families—in collaboration with the Childcare and Protection Agency, aimed at safeguarding children, alongside the Difficult Circumstances Unit, which provides essential aid to those in need.
The dialogue also extended to services supporting men’s well-being, such as the Brotherhood Operating Safe Spaces (BOSS) and the Empower Initiatives, all of which are designed to foster open discussions and resolutions.
This meeting marks a significant step towards deeper collaboration to address pressing societal issues and build resilience and confidence in women throughout Guyana.
