$37k grant to boost training for women entrepreneurs

From left: WEBC chairwoman Eseta Nadakuitavuki, US Embassador to Fiji Joseph Cella and Makoi Vocational Centre manager Shazna Khan after signing the grant agreement at the embassy in Suva today. Picture: WANSOLWARA

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

The Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) received a timely grant of $US17,360 ($F37,640) from the US Embassy Suva today to run the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) for as many as 90 Fijian women entrepreneurs.

The grant would enable the academy to guide women business owners through training programmes that were Fiji-focused and vital for their upskilling in areas of entrepreneurship and business management.

US Ambassador to Fiji Joseph Cella said the investment in the development of women entrepreneurs would empower business leaders and inspire prospective business owners.

“We have found when women lead, they raise their families and communities up with them. We look forward to seeing the AWE participants become future business leaders,” Mr Cella said.

Mr Cella said there was a lot of potential for Fijian-made products to make headway in the US market.

According to the embassy, the AWE grant would allow facilitators from the Council and the Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre to guide women business owners through a programme, which would incorporate the DreamBuilder online entrepreneurial training module that teaches women the skills and knowledge to start and grow their own businesses.

WEBC chairwoman Eseta Nadakuitavuki said they had plans in place for the first phase of the training programme and looked forward to the boosting efforts to advance business women from the informal to formal sector.

“Even though there are challenges with COVID-19, the women are excited about the training programme,” she said.

Makoi Vocational Centre manager Shazna Khan said as many as 1000 women had completed their training at the centre, many opting to take up sewing courses.

She said the centre offered four courses for women from all backgrounds and many engaged in cooking and pastry, hydroponics and caregiving training programmes.

“We have recorded an 80 per cent success rate among out participants. The remaining 20 per cent we try to get back into the program to ensure they are given the support they need to complete their skills training,” Ms Khan said.

Meanwhile, the AWE Programme will be delivered to six groups of 10-15 women throughout the country. Participants come from a range of backgrounds and level of business expertise.

Beyond learning in the academy, the US Embassy Suva said the participants would have the opportunity to share, learn and network with other members of their cohort.

“The benefits of the AWE program will continue long after the program ends as it will provide participants an opportunity to apply skillsets learned through AWE to their own businesses and become part of a robust network of women business leaders,” the embassy said in a statement.

AWE facilitators from the WEBC and the vocational centre received virtual training from the AWE team in Washington DC last month.