More than 4,000 women across the country have applied for the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
This is according to Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who was addressing a gathering at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute at Cove and John, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), on Monday.
“… WIIN took off because we invested in women,” Minister Persaud highlighted.
WIIN- the brainchild of Dr. Persaud- is available both online and in-person across the country.
Through this programme women can benefit from training and upskilling in garment construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), graphic designing, video editing, photography, interior decorating, and child and elderly care.
The WIIN programme also includes the provision of functional, business, social issues, and legislative literacy, and covers areas in anger management, emotional intelligence, coping mechanisms, as well as information on support systems from the ministry.
Each course is followed by an assessment, and the top five students will be eligible for assistance to start up their businesses.
According to the Minister, over 500 women in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven have already benefited from the training.
Importantly, though, she said that all 4,000 applicants will receive training before the end of the year.
One WIIN beneficiary, Vanessa Mayers, related that she was taught how to create a successful business in addition to receiving training in elderly care.
Creating businesses and facilitating economic empowerment, Minister Persaud said, is a major focus of the programme.
And, she said that the women are being encouraged to work with each other to create a “network of support and skills” that will help them to develop their businesses.
On Monday also, a new business incubator and mobile app for women were launched to help propel women-led entrepreneurship.
The incubator and app build on the work being done through the WIIN programme and are expected to help drive women-led entrepreneurship in Guyana.
