–to advance third MDG
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has partnered with the Women’s Enterprise (WENET) to host the country’s first Women’s Enterprise Exposition (WEnEx) aimed at advancing the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG), which speaks to gender equality and women empowerment.
President of the GCCI Clinton Urling yesterday announced at a joint press conference with Director of WEnEx Tina Camera and Director of WENET Kendra Borutisk that the event is billed for Hotel Tower next Monday between 2 pm and 7 pm. It is expected that over 30 businesses and organisations run by and for women, among others, would have booths at the exposition, where they would inform attendees about the work they do. Later in the evening, a panel discussion will be held on gender equality.
Urling, giving the background to the collaboration, told reporters at GCCI’s Waterloo Street office that the chamber met WENET a few months ago and explored the possibility of hosting an event. He noted that since the GCCI is a member of the National Working Group, which is responsible for implementing the third MDG, it had made a commitment to host an event to advance the goal.
He said following discussions with WENET it was decided that the exposition would be held. The event seeks to assist in the financial and economic empowerment of women. It would also promote the importance of gender equality and accountability for female empowerment in Guyana.
Camera said that participants would comprise women from all generations and from varying backgrounds coming together in an atmosphere that would strive to foster networking, marketing, mentorship and support. Participants would include women from small businesses, support groups and youth development organisations.
The Peace Corps volunteer, who is attached to the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, said the exposition aims to raise awareness on the availability of employment and volunteerism from the groups.
According to Camera, by “exposing Guyana’s finest” the public will learn the possibilities of inspiration from the true working capacity of Guyanese women.
“We wish to achieve these goals by empowering women and creating equality,” she said.
All the participants would highlight what they do in short videos that would be shown to attendees.
Meantime, Borutisk explained that WENET was born out of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Project which was started in January 2011 with financial support from Exxon Mobil and the personal support from a Canadian intern, through the International Youth Internship Programme from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The project was originally aimed to equip 50 female entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and support to develop sustainable businesses in Region 4.
WENET, she said, is the support group of the project, where all the women involved can come together and get ideas and advice while discussing their challenges. The network sees women use one another as mentors and strengthen the group through increased participation levels while attracting new members.
Those slated to be involved in the panel discussion on Monday are President of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) Simona Broomes, Minister Human Services & Social Security Jennifer Webster, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Paloma Mohamed and AFC Member of Parliament Valerie Garrido-Lowe.
