Thirty-four complete Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop -in Kuru Kururu

(MOTP) Georgetown, Guyana – (November 4, 2016) First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, this morning, joined 34 women from several villages along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway for their graduation ceremony following their successful completion of the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop at the Youth Choice, Initiative Building in Kuru Kururu.

In extending congratulations to the women, Mrs. Granger said, “Women have to recognise the skills they have. They often think it’s something ordinary [but] with your knowledge and with your certificates… you can go back into your communities, stronger and more powerful as women and businesswomen and share what you have [learned].”

Mrs. Granger thanked the women for making time to certify themselves as business owners. “I want to thank you and I hope that what you accomplish here will be something that you can take with you throughout your successful careers in whatever business you want to embrace… Thank you for taking a decision to come out to empower yourselves,“ she said.

Additionally, Mrs. Granger told the women that the friendships and

relationships that have developed during the week long workshop are friendships that they should nurture for the betterment of their communities.  “[In this workshop] you have developed a body of friends, a body of people, who are interested, because they see the benefits, and they are they to encourage you and push themselves forward and in the final analysis make the communities stronger and better,” Mrs. Granger said.

Well known business entrepreneur and motivational speaker from the Soesdyke-Linden Highway area, Ms. Dolerise South, in her remarks to the women said that in order to make their businesses work, they have to be responsible and be able to take initiative.

Meanwhile, Interweave Solutions Facilitator, Mr. Sanjay Pooran, said, “The full effect of the programme is to benefit families… When women are gainfully employed, the economic effect and even the social impact of their employment or their involvement in entrepreneurship is not felt only by the women, [but also] by the family, and that’s the power behind the concept of women empowerment.” He further emphasised the importance of ensuring that women, who graduate through the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop have legitimate business practices, registered businesses and businesses, which will contribute to the economy. 

Through this workshop, the women have formed themselves into three groups, which will focus on addressing social ills within their communities.   The groups are, ‘High hopes for tomorrow’, which will focus on youth unemployment, ‘Kuru Kururu Children’s Development Programme’ for providing support to less fortunate children and eradicating drug abuse and teenage pregnancies, and ‘Educational Prospectors’, which will focus on alleviating transportation difficulties faced by students in Kuru Kururu.  

The Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop continues to create a foundation on Business management for women of all walks across Guyana.  This is the tenth workshop session that has been done as a collaborative effort between the, Office of the First Lady, the Ministry of Social Protection and Interweave Solutions Incorporated.