Women in face-mask-sewing initiative to receive business training

THE Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) plans to offer training in business literacy and marketing to about ninety women who are involved in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s face-mask-sewing initiative.

This is according to the newly-appointed Chairperson of the GWLI Board, Patricia Bacchus, who said this will be one of the many training programmes the institute is planning as part of its efforts to empower women and girls.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Bacchus spoke of assisting vulnerable women during the COVID-19 pandemic. She informed that there is an ongoing women-led Garment and Accessories Cottage Industry Initiative through which approximately 90 persons are making face masks. This initiative was launched by the Human Services Ministry last month.

“In its first month of operation, this initiative has yielded over 120,000 masks and generated income for those persons involved in sewing and supplying these masks. In the interest of time, the board has discussed the provision of suitable training to the persons involved in the Garment and Accessories Cottage [Industry] Initiative, particularly in the areas of business literacy and marketing, in an effort to supplement their skills for revenue generation on an ongoing, long- term basis,” she stated.

Bacchus informed that the board, which had its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, is also looking to design suitable programmes geared towards the elevation of various skills in girls and women that will allow for their increased participation in decision-making and better access to leadership roles at all levels.

In so doing, GWLI hopes to partner with agencies and institutions that promote gender equity and economic empowerment. These include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), relevant government agencies and educational/vocational institutions.
She explained to the Guyana Chronicle that the GWLI’s mission is to develop, promote and support women and girls as leaders and decision-makers through education and training. This, she emphasized, is necessary to facilitate equal access and full participation in leadership and decision-making processes within the Guyanese society.

Additionally, Bacchus explained that the institute strives to continuously educate and train girls and women to become leaders in their families, private lives and communities, and to be public leaders within the larger political and policy-making areas.

“The board is expected to craft the policies and programmes that would ensure [that] the mission and vision of the institute are met so that we can see more girls and women take up positions of leadership in all spheres of activities, and where we can see a greater level of financial independence of women,” Bacchus said.

Bacchus stressed that the board will ensure equal access to training opportunities by coordinating activities in a decentralized manner and developing specially tailored programmes for the different regions.

She also expressed hope that the board will be able to effectively utilise its 2020 budgetary allocation before the end of the year. According to Bacchus, work on the institute’s budget and programmes for 2021 will soon commence.

Further, GWLI will be on the lookout for any available grants which would assist in the fulfillment of its mandate.

Recently, Minister of Human Services, Dr. Vindyha Persaud, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality through women empowerment, with guidance from the newly installed board.

During a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Minister Persaud challenged the new board to develop programmes that would train and empower women to be financially independent.

The other members of the board are Deputy Chairperson, Camille Deokie, Padmini Singh, Saudia Ferouz, Sarah Brown, Gina Arjoon, Roshan Khan Jnr., Marissa Scott, Louanna Abrams, Macaela Cameron and Asha Kissoon.