Founder of an international women’s empowerment non-profit organisation, Cherie Blair, last evening said it will continue to work across the country, even as she challenged Guyanese women to not allow setbacks to deter them in pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams.
“As you venture into the world of entrepreneurship, stay true to your vision and don’t be afraid to dream big. Learn from your setbacks… adapt, keep moving forward,” she urged in her address to graduands of the 2023 Road to Growth business training programme, an initiative her eponymously-named organisation has been running here since 2021.
The event was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, with the Cherie Blair founder, Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali, and British High Commissioner Jane Miller as speakers.
And even as the women pursue their business dreams, the internationally known barrister emphasised that they should not forget themselves in the process, a tendency that caregivers often adopt to the detriment of their own health.
“Remember to be kind to yourself. Self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity,” Blair added.
With the support of partners, the ExxonMobil Foundation and ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc, the Cherie Blair Foundation was this year able to assist 103 women in completing the seven-week intensive Road to Growth business training programme.
“Guyana has a huge number of women-owned businesses, but our research identified a demand for business training and skills development to support women entrepreneurs in growing and sustaining their businesses – that’s where Road to Growth comes in!” the non-profit organisation says of the programme profile.
Pointing out that Guyana’s oil wealth has seen the nation transforming rapidly with its Gross Domestic Product steadily increasing annually, she said that women were key contributors and it was why more are needed in the field of entrepreneurship.
Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, reasoned that when women are empowered financially, the benefits are passed down to their families, community and by extension the country.
“When women like you come together… They don’t just get money; they use that money to support others… you are agents of change in your society.”
The organisation is set to carry out an in-depth evaluation of the Road to Growth in Guyana Programme, but it has seen “fantastic results” from preliminary findings of surveying participants.
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner charged the women here to “claim their seats at the table.”
Leaving them with three key pieces of advice as they work to start and build their businesses, The ambassador told them to ensure that they “have a strong network and mentor; claim your seat and be prepared for the journey to have some knocks.”
The First Lady told the group that enduring the weeks of gruelling work was a testament their commendable commitment to learning and growth. “You have not only embraced the opportunity to enhance your leadership, you have also demonstrated the power of ambition, hard work and community support,” she said.
She noted that not only were women in the city benefitting but that the programme was “reaching women in regions Five and Six as well.”
It is her dream that as the programme continues and with her as support, women from remote regions will also be able to soon benefit.
“A new era of economic empowerment is indeed dawning for women in Guyana, and you, determined graduates, are at the forefront of this transformation. You are the driving force that will shape our nation’s economic landscape for generations to come.”
“The fifth Sustainable Development Goal speaks to achieving gender equality and empowering women. But at the current pace, none of us will see gender parity in our lifetime. The truth is though, when more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality, in addition to many other positive development outcomes,” the First Lady was quoted as saying.
Making reference to the World Economic Forum 2021 Gender Gap Report, she said that the nation is reminded that it will take more than 100 years for the world to attain gender parity.
Metric
“The area of greatest concern, as highlighted in the report, is women’s economic participation and opportunity. For this metric, the study found that progress has actually regressed, and we are facing a massive 257 years before gender parity can be achieved. There are a number of reasons why this is happening. Women face greater hurdles than men in almost all spheres of economic activity, including access to finance, assets, technology, good-quality jobs, peer-to-peer networks, and of course, training opportunities,” she said.
Ali noted that only 55 per cent of women globally are engaged in the labour market, as opposed to 78 per cent of men. Women, on average, she pointed out devote 1 to 5 hours more a day than men in unpaid domestic work and childcare, and 1 to 6 hours less a day than men in market activities.
With Guyana experiencing unprecedented growth and rapid transformation, she underscored that it was important to ensure that “our women are not excluded from the opportunities which are being made available.”
“That is why initiatives like the Road to Growth are so important for our women and by extension our country’s development,” she stressed.
Her office, she informed, has pursued similar initiatives which seek to support women empowerment and integrate women into the labour force and she urged others to also do their part.
“We are currently providing technical safety and oil and gas training to 100 women from the hinterland, while an additional 30 women, who were victims of domestic violence, have received scholarships to pursue training at the Carnegie School of Home Economics,” she said.
“So, I have not shied away from my responsibility as your First Lady to ensure that I facilitate the provision of opportunities to our women to support their personal and professional development. While we do this, I also ask the other stakeholders present today to ensure we continue to sing with one voice and continuously raise awareness about the issues which affect women and stymie their growth and development,” she added.
The Cherie Blair Foundation has worked in Guyana with several organisations including Action Invest and on the HerVenture app which aims to help women in businesses learn about methods of online payments
With an aim to “revolutionise business opportunities for one million women by 2030,” the Cherie Blair Foundation says that it works to help create a “future where every woman and girl can enjoy equal economic opportunities so they can live to their full potential. Removing the barriers that women entrepreneurs face is a vital part of achieving that equality.”
