Dozens of women in Region Two on Wednesday came out smiling from the Anna Regina State House after receiving the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s one-off cash grant.
The grant, worth $50,000, was distributed by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations’ World Food Pro-gramme with 139 beneficiaries from Region Two who represent 91 per cent of the targeted distribution for the Region.
The persons that received the grant included participants who recently completed the Ministry’s Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) initiative. These were interviewed and were qualified for the grant once they met the criteria.
Minister of Human Services and Social Secu-rity, Dr Vindhya Persaud, informed that the purpose of the cash grant is to help women launch their own businesses.
During her interaction with the beneficiaries, she asked them if they had business proposals and what were some of the businesses they were thinking of. She also reminded them that the grant’s purpose is to empower them to become independent so that they can sustain themselves. She also disclosed that the distribution was the second of its kind and will see an additional 2,000 persons benefiting from it countrywide. As such, she encouraged the women to use the money to kickstart their businesses.
Dr Persaud also mentioned that the ministry has partnered with the Centre for Local Business Deve-lopment, as well as the Women’s Chamber of Commerce to further support women to become successful business owners. She also disclosed that the ministry has started a business incubator which is currently assisting entrepreneurs to network with other businesses to sell their items, communicate, and create ideas, at no added cost.
The women who received the grant already had business ideas in their heads. One such person was Ashmini Spencer who said that she will be starting her new business. She said she is happy for the fund and will use it to open her salon.
Another recipient, Serojanie Balram, said that she will be opening a shoe store and will use the funds to help her get it off the ground. Another recipient Melisa Singh said that she will be using the fund to start her poultry business.
Meanwhile, an ecstatic Rajwantie Persaud said, “I am really happy for this. Is long time I wanted a help and I really don’t want take a loan. I will use it to buy some chickens and start up a business.”
