By Indrawattie Natram

FOURTEEN residents of Wakenaam island (Region Three) are looking at earning an incomes through private enterprises now that they have successfully graduated from a catering/cookery class, compliments of the Guyana Foundation- Sunrise Centre.

The women particularly said that they are contemplating opening their own cooking business. Anmalitia Hinds, who was one of the best graduating students for the skills training programme, said that the catering classes have encouraged women on the island to be Independent and to focus on entrepreneurship.

“The knowledge we gained is valuable. We learned things in cooking we didn’t know about. We are more empowered in the field of cookery and we can confidently cook now, thanks to the Guyana Foundation-Sunrise Centre,” Hinds said.

Another participant from the cookery class, Oshanna Bancroft, said that her cooking skills have improved significantly. The 18-year-old said that she is thinking of opening a pastry snackette on the island. Bancroft said that she would particularly like to thank the Sunrise Centre cookery class teacher Ms Glynis Streete for sharing her knowledge. Bancroft said that every Saturday classes were held with the participants on the island at Arthurville Primary School.

Another participant, Caren Hinds, said that she believed that every girl should enrol at a cooking class since the experience gained will last them a lifetime. Hinds said she did not regret joining the classes and she is confident that she can bake using the right ingredients. These women are hoping to open a catering service, where businesses can contract them to cook or to provide them with a variety of pastries. The catering classes were provided by the Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre to empower persons on the Island with a skill that they can use in the future to earn themselves incomes.