– helping to empower others

By Ravena Gildharie
With increasing focus on women empowerment and entrepreneurship, more young Guyanese females are setting up their own businesses and pushing their creative ingenuity to the highest levels to attain success. Some of them have evolved as mentors, teaching their trade and sharing their business experiences for the benefit of others.
Yvonne Angelica Pilgrim, age 27, originally of North East La Penitence, has a bakery shop in Kingston, Georgetown. She specialises in custom-made cakes, integrating the latest techniques and artistic styles.

She has trained scores of women from Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank Demerara, West Coast and West Bank Demerara and Bartica. Women in Essequibo and Berbice have expressed interest too, presenting more opportunities for Pilgrim to consider.
She previously worked fulltime but, after a two-year programme at the Carnegie School of Home Economics, became self-employed three years ago. Fueled by her passion, she continued research and practice to boost her creativity beyond the basic flowers and roses in cake designs.

“It’s a God-given gift because when I hold the bag and tip and set out to do a design I have never done before, I feel blessed when I see the end result,” she stated.
Having mastered the art, Pilgrim felt a desire to share her knowledge.
“I knew there were women out there including single parents who may want to learn a new skill and to provide an income for themselves, but might not have been able to have the formal training or opportunities, so I decided to do the courses…I don’t consider myself the best but, I try to use what I have learnt through my research and practice to teach my students,” Pilgrim related.

The 12-week courses include classes of 15. Her most recent graduation was two weeks ago. The courses focus on cake baking and decoration but, students are now asking to include pastry making.

‘Stay focused to boost business’
Her advice for young entrepreneurs: “I always tell my students ‘you have to love what you do to succeed and you must surround yourself with people who support and motivate you. There will be people who will say negative things to discourage you, when you set out to do something and yes, there will always be challenges and doubts, but I believe with God’s guidance we can overcome anything. We just have to stay focused and keep growing and the jobs will come.’”

Pilgrim is married and has a four-month-old son but, plans to pursue business management courses and subsequent funding at the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) to expand her venture.
Another creative young woman is Colita Ishmile Mohamed, a 26-year-old wife and mother of one, who owns CIM Exotic Designs. She is based in Diamond, EBD, and features innovative crochet designs of clothing, bags, hats, footwear, jewelry and other accessories. She launched her venture last October 2016 at Curlfest Guyana Natural Hair Expo at the Promenade Gardens.

It was her first exposure and she was inspired by the public’s response to her creativity in the age-old art of crochet.
“My major motivation to crochet is my love for the craft and the feeling of pride and satisfaction at the finished product,” Mohamed explained, adding: “I am constantly developing my craft by researching modern stitches that helps me to create contemporary items.”
She learnt the craft from an elder woman in her community at age 12 during a two-week school holiday. She was taught the basic designs of baby hats and socks, but later developed her own creative items. Now, she even features a line of modern swimwear and jewelry including earrings and necklaces.

Exposure for young entrepreneurs
The entrepreneur has since participated in Guyana Fashion Week 2016, Women Entrepreneurship Christmas Market at the Giftland Mall and Women in Business Expo 2017. There, she marketed her products and also met other young women who were eager to learn about her experiences in business. Mohamed is open to train others, but hasn’t found young women interested in crochet.

She hopes to market internationally, but sourcing raw materials locally is challenging.
“I purchase my raw materials from online stores mostly Amazon, and with additional shipping costs to Guyana and the increase in the U.S. rate for online transactions, the costs of raw materials are most times twice the item cost when it gets here,” Mohamed indicated.
The cost of her finished products ranges from GYD$1200 to GYD$15, 000 per item.
Meanwhile, Natasha Khan Azeez, 29, also uses public display to expand her business, Customized & Traditional Gifts & Décor, located at Campbellville.
Originally from Wales, WBD, Azeez designs scented candles, coconut baskets, calabash, wine glasses, coffee/ tea mugs, plate plaques, wooden plaques, photo frames and corsages among others. She does face painting and henna designs as well as interior and exterior décor.

“It all began with a pink scented candle and a tube of fabric paint at 03:00am in the morning, the time when I usually think best. I did not have a plan then, I was not even thinking about starting my own business. However, from that one candle and with the help of Facebook for marketing, it grew and I thought seriously about creating a business where I can share my skills with fellow Guyanese at home and internationally,” Azeez explained.
She added, “I never attended an art school or class of that. I was however doing face painting with Mr. Michael Khan and I guess the technique just stayed, and as I went along it came naturally and it just continues to blossom.”

‘Support local business’
Azeez has since studied at the National School of Theatre Arts & Drama, Kuru Kuru Co-operative College and the Business School. She is a trained photographer too and works part time as a radio broadcaster.
She recalled that after leaving her fulltime media job a few years ago, she struggled to find employment that supported her creativity, so she created her own business. She has evolved and added new items to her line of customized gifts and décor. She credits her success to Michael Khan and Lyndell Danzie Black.

Azeez hopes to have a permanent business spot but observed that citizens are unsupportive of local talent and creations.
“At my first exhibition, people literally just passed by saying they can get similar products abroad, cheaper…when our own people can just disregard your work without even taking an indebt look, it hurts…so my encouragement to you out there is to take time to appreciate and support your own people, that’s the only way we can move forward,” the talented businesswoman urged.

She has showcased her work at Business Expo, Theatre Guild of Guyana, National Cultural Centre, Promenade Gardens and Women in Business Expo 2017.
Her advice to other young women, “Be independent…Be exposed to new ideas, go places, to exhibitions, museums, dramatic performances, read and be enlightened. Nothing is wrong with a fulltime job, we all start there however, as you continue to grow, allow your mind to explore all the possibilities. Why stop at the sky? Go for the moon, the sun even the stars.”