A BATCH of 47 girls on Thursday completed a four-day self-empowering workshop hosted by the Guyana Girl Guides Association (GGGA).The GGGA endeavours to promote equality and empowerment of young women, in accordance to the Millennium Developmental Goals (now built into the Sustainable Developmental Goals).

During the workshop, the girls were exposed to careers in the sciences, technology, business, art, and engineering, Information Communication Technologies, music and entrepreneurship.

They also received tips on building self-esteem and how to engage in fun social activities.

First Lady Sandra Granger who addressed the closing ceremony of the workshop, themed “Be Your Best You” urged the young ladies to choose their career by themselves since it is a “life-long commitment.”

“Do not allow anyone to influence you by telling you what is men’s work and what is women’s work… if you like it… follow it… love it and give it your best shot… and above all, be brave and be fearless,” the First Lady who is a patron of the GGGA said as she encouraged the girls to “Never stop learning”.

GGGA Executives Sarah and Berle Gordon said the Association holds workshops every year for young women, but this is the first time it launched the “Be Your Best You” workshop as it wants to bring out the best in girls.

According to Sarah Gordon, the programme was aimed at improving “how girls feel about themselves” since over the years some seem to suffer from low self-esteem because they want to follow a particular career path, but are studying different courses.

“The girls begin to feel a little better about themselves,” she said after attending the programme.

The workshop participants were between the ages of 14- 23 and hailed from Plaisance, Buxton, Ann’s Grove, West Demerara, the Bishop’s High, Girl Guides from the GGA and from the Drop-In and Sophia Care Centres.