–to help families cope with COVID-19 financial fallout

FINANCIAL intelligence adviser and author, Gary Thompson has embarked on a new project with the launching of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Family Planning Institute, to address the struggles of family and finances amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Thompson disclosed that the organisation will target the youths of Guyana, offering them programmes in four pillars, namely: Psychology & human resources; leadership-emotional intelligence; financial intelligence; and business psychology.
Thompson noted that the aim of the organisation is to provide Guyanese, especially the youths, with a sense of direction as they enter the world of adulthood and family life.
“The chief focus is to speak to issues that will help individuals gain a sense of self, and to gain a sense of direction with their lives. We believe that poverty is a mindset, and wealth is a mindset, so one of our first tasks is to get people to have a positive sense of self,” he said.
Thompson further explained that with the leadership-emotional intelligence programme, the organisation will be offering mentorship in various leadership roles, as well as family planning skills to provide for a household.
“We have persons that will work with young people on developing their personal life plan; we have persons that can work with you in developing your family life master plan and professional plan,” Thompson said.

He noted that in most cases when one thinks of starting a family, it’s based on emotions, however while emotional support is a must financial support is equally needed and important to sustain a family.
“What we see very often, people start a family, and that is an emotional decision. But you cannot carry emotions to the bank; you cannot carry emotions to the market. You need more than just emotional involvement to sustain a healthy family relationship,” Thompson explained.
He noted that the leadership programme helps one to think ahead and take action, as well as plan financially to start a family. “In your life, you want to be able to think ahead; and you must have a game-plan to make it happen.”
The third programme, Financial Intelligence, he stated, will see persons who wish to participate in the programme learning of passive income cash flow, multiple strings of income, and smart investment strategies.

He stated that in this day and age, there are many young people who are unaware of bank operations and the various requirements needed to receive assistance when seeking help from a financial organisation hence he stated that the programme will also offer teachings on the commercial financial sector and how to pre-qualify for a back loan.
The fourth and final programme, Business Psychology, Thompson noted, will focus on entrepreneurs and family businesses, offering skills in business management.
Thompson, who is also a business consultant heading the firm, Global Branding and Marketing, noted that research has shown that that over 70 per cent of small businesses that are birthed failed within the first five years of start-up, thus making it difficult for entrepreneurs to maintain a sustainable business venture as such the business programme will address such issues also.