[www.inewsguyana.com] – Under the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme, 76 single parents from Soesdyke and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara on Saturday, March 28 graduated and received certificates for a cake decorating and pastry making course.
The six-week course was conducted in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and the Soesdyke Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and is aimed at empowering women with the necessary skills for self development and that of their families.
For Dhannyie Austin, this course was a great assistance since she will now be able to earn more money and take care of her family in the comfort of her own home.
She said that she will be taking orders for wedding and birthday cakes. “I feel proud, happy and excited. When I started the course, I didn’t know anything I came here and learned everything. Now I am equipped with a skill and I feel proud,” said Shirley Gibbons. She said she will now be able to start her own business.
Meanwhile, Tisheree Taylor said that this is her second certificate through this programme. While expressing gratitude to all those who made this programme possible, Taylor said that she will now be opening her own cake shop.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill, addressing the graduands at the event which was held at Camille’s Institute, Soesdyke, stressed on government’s commitment to empowering women to contribute to nation building.
The minister also mentioned some of the opportunities that government has created for women through the Women of Worth Programme (WOW), where more than 1000 women were able to access loans to start up a business.
Minister Edghill urged the women to move forward and develop themselves and don’t let their past define the future. Recently 50 women graduated under this programme in floral decoration. [Extracted and modified from GINA]
