Some 3,000 women entrepreneurs in Guyana are expected to benefit and grow their businesses using the Her Venture phone application which was launched here on Tuesday.
The app, which can be downloaded for free, was developed by the international Cherie Blair Foundation for Women in 2018 and now has over 40,000 users worldwide. The mobile app was officially launched at the British High Commission residence in Georgetown in partnership with Action Invest Caribbean Inc. – a local business development company.
Chief Execution Officer of Action Invest Caribbean Davitri Doerga said it was through partnership and business education which led to her becoming one of Guyana’s successful businesswomen for over 20 years now.
“Our goal is to provide on the ground implementation for the foundation’s women’s mobile learning app and to provide at least 3,000 women entrepreneurs of micro and small businesses with the knowledge and skills to successfully grow their businesses,” Doerga explained.
The project is made possible through funding from ExxonMobil Guyana and will also train 25 female entrepreneurs using the Foundation’s road to growth curriculum.
Action Invest has supported thousands through its coaching, marketing and training programmes. It is also the first Guyanese training company to be ISO 1009 certified and has been selected to provide ISO training to other local companies.
“I believe the Her Venture app will deliver the level of business education and support that will empower thousands of current and aspiring female entrepreneurs to learn, earn and contribute more,” Doerga said while urging persons to download and start using the app.
The CEO for the Cherie Blair Foundation Helen McEachern, joined the launch via zoom; she said it is a fact that women entrepreneurs are more likely to invest in their families and communities and their businesses are also more likely to provide more service and opportunities. McEachern said the foundation has been working with ExxonMobil since 2015 to raise funds to empower women.
According to McEachern, 175,000 women were able to sustain and grow their business in over 100 countries with the Her Venture App. She further explained why they have partnered with Guyana.
“According to the World Economic Forum, Guyana ranks 105 out of 156 countries in terms of gender equality in terms of economic participation and opportunities.
“We believe this is an environment that is right for initiatives like the Her Venture app and thrilled to bring it to Guyana today,” McEachern said.
The mobile app is fun and flexible and offers business training on the go with sessions between five to seven minutes. It also teaches users to manage business records, access financing and digital marketing and e-commerce.
“Our evaluations have shown that women do love the app.
“It has been a vital resource for women in those countries throughout the pandemic it has allowed them to get access to skills to transform their business,” McEachern stated.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud, who also attended the event, said the government is conscious of the need to empower women is a sustainable way.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for women across our country to benefit through entrepreneurship, opportunities and more importantly the mechanism to ensure that their entrepreneur opportunity will transform into something that cannot only benefit them but by extension their families and communities,” Minister Persaud said.
The first female British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller congratulated the foundation and Action Invest for creating this opportunity for women in Guyana.
Since its launch in 2018, Her Venture has supported over 41, 000 women entrepreneurs in Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa and Nigeria.
