Human Services Ministry offering training, entrepreneurship programmes for women

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will soon roll out a series of training and entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at empowering women and single parents.

Minister Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud said these projects will allow women to access a wider range of job opportunities, have a stable income and improve their social standing. 

In a DPI interview over the weekend, Minister Persaud said this project will replace the Women of Worth (WOW) microcredit programme administered by the Ministry. That programme, which allowed the women to access loans to expand business projects, was halted under the previous administration. 

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud engaging a group of women in Mocha at the weekend

“WOW has not been happening for quite some time and there were some issues in terms of the programme. So, I am looking at a more effective model…It’s not just giving someone money and hoping their business work,” Minister Persaud explained.

Already, the Ministry is executing a garment and cottage industry initiative targeting single parents and women. Participants are trained in functional business literacy, sustainable business and micro-enterprise and are informed of the availability of counselling services and other forms of support.

“That is what we will be doing with the other programmes. We are taking them through the whole process so that they can be sustainable,” Minister Persaud explained.

 She said the Ministry has engaged several stakeholders on the initiatives. 

Training will be conducted by the Ministry in partnership with other entities like the Small Business Bureau, the Institute of Private Enterprise Development, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Private Sector Commission.

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