36 graduate from Financial Literacy,Small Business Training Programme
―facilitated by Department of Youth
On November 23, the Department of Youth-Youth Empowerment Unit, officially concluded its 7th and 8th Financial Literacy and Small Business Training Programme with a closing ceremony at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue.
The Unit executes several training programmes through collaboration with skilled facilitators from various organizations to ensure that the training provided to participants is relevant and beneficiaries of the respective programmes receive the requisite skills and knowledge needed to enable them to become better leaders and entrepreneurs.
The training exercise spanned five weeks with specific emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, budgeting, banking and financial institutions, credit and debit issues, communication, structure and business activity, marketing and marketing strategies and financial record keeping and accounting procedures among others.
In her address to the participants, Leslyn Boyce, Director of Youth (ag.), stated, “Investing in education and knowledge is increasingly recognised as a key factor in ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. In this process, the role of financial education is both important and wide-ranging; thus, the relevance of the training to which the participants were exposed.”
Boyce underscored that financial literacy is necessary for entrepreneurial advancement and economic development, “Small businesses are the backbone to any developing economy, more so for Guyana” she stated.
Participant, Aneeza Douglas expressed that the knowledge she acquired through the training has equipped her with the skills to manage her finances, thereby, providing the confidence to utilize her talent as an artist to create a viable business in the fashion industry.
Leshaun Philander expressed similar sentiments, “I am an English and Spanish tutor but prior to this training, I never thought about things such as a business plan or marketing my business. I now have a vision of how I can promote and manage my business.”
The culmination of the programme saw 36 young people graduating with skills to not only contribute to their personal development but to that of their respective communities through sustainable entrepreneurship.
Since its commencement in 2016, a total of 169 young people have benefited from the Financial Literacy and Small Business Training; many have used their training to successfully vie for the Youth Innovation Project Grant to establish or develop their respective businesses in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Anthropology, Archeology, Architecture, the Arts, Mathematics and Spirituality.