THE two month EMPRETEC Guyana Inc. ‘Venture Out 2010 – Empowerment through Economic Self Sufficiency’ programme ended Wednesday, having empowered 165 women with the skills to be better business managers. At the closing ceremony, in the Conference Room of the National Library, on Church Street, Georgetown, stakeholders gathered, shared their experiences.
Targeting women in small businesses, the course attracted responses through advertisements and EMPRETEC Managing Director, Mrs. Judy Semple-Joseph, said the owners of small businesses need to be empowered, rather than just settle.
The exercise was conducted in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), with funding from Republic Bank Limited.
Among the areas of focus at the sessions in the Regions was motivation and managing cash flow and business records.
An entrepreneur attached to EMPRETEC, Ms. Lucia Desir, remarked that today’s women need to be proactive, recognise their potential and spend their time productively.
She suggested the establishment of a private sector commission for women, contending that their needs are much different and such a body would encourage cooperation and unity, as well as advance their interests.
The women in attendance applauded the suggestion and some of them admitted that the sessions were invaluable and provided them with a platform to advance their operations.
Ms. Vilma DaSilva, from Region Two and involved with Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors Association, told the gathering that, starting from a bottom house set-up, their enterprise is now readying itself to export.

Doing more
“With EMPRETEC support, we are doing more,” she disclosed.
According to her, women need to recognise the role they play in developing not only their homes but their communities and take advantage of opportunities to develop themselves.
DaSilva said the EMPRETEC tutelage has changed her approach to business.
Ms. Loraine Hooper, from Region Four, said the training has given her the ability to say no to customers seeking credit and manage her cash flow better.
“I have made many changes to the way I operate,” said the baker/cook.
Another Region Four entrepreneur, Ms. Veronica Glenn, is a retired nurse but not yet ready for retirement and is now involved in agro-processing.
She, too, acknowledged that the EMPRETEC training was very useful and said women need to get out of the routines which do them no good.
“They need to realise that they do not have to stay home and waste time. They can advance themselves and this training helped women to advance themselves,” Glenn concurred.
Ms. Audrey Bagot, from the Region Six, said her hairdressing suffered because of her lack of business sense but she is now in a better position to budget and market her enterprise.
“There is more I can do now,” she confessed.
Bagot said she needed a strategy and that is what the training gave her.
Ms. Claudette Watts, also from Region Six, who operates a catering service with her sister, said the EMPRETEC guidance has made her more knowledgeable in the business arena.
“Now I can manage my business better and have time for myself now,” she said.

New direction
Ms. Valerie Ignascio, from Lethem in Region Nine, expressed her gratitude for the training which has caused her business to take a new direction.
“This training was good. We need more support like this, especially in the savannahs,” said the Rupununi woman.
Ms. Sheena Bristol, from Region Ten, said she has taken charge and is now investing in a smarter way in both her business and herself, with her newly acquired skills.
The primary objective of EMPRETEC in Guyana is to support and advance entrepreneurship development by working directly with small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The facilitators select growth-oriented enterprises, particularly those with export potential and provide access to a comprehensive and integrated range of services to enhance their participation in national development in cooperation with other SME support schemes.
EMPRETEC Guyana Inc. is a non-profit company that:

* provides support for the advancement of small and medium enterprises (SMEs);

* supports the systematic development of micro-enterprises with high growth potential and

* provides professional services in support of business development.

The EMPRETEC Guyana Centre was established on March 1, 2003, with the aim of supporting and advancing entrepreneurship development in this country, by working directly with small and medium business and providing access to a comprehensive and integrated range of services.