— says UG lecturer who has a passion for décor
SHENELLA Onika Benjamin was raised believing that multiple streams of income help people to maintain their financial integrity. “You never have to compromise, because of the lack of finances,” she posited, during an interview at her home in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
“My dad (George Benjamin , Snr Warrant Officer (ret’d.) and my mom( Barbara Benjamin, the late Departmental Sister at the New Ams terdam Hospital) were always engaged in business… three- dimension income… they also believed that one source of income is crippling , should an individual lose their job,” Shenella said.
So, on July 1, 2013, some nine years after graduating with a degree in Agriculture from the University of Guyana, “Gifted Hands,” a business specialising in décor, was launched.
At the start, there were several hurdles, inclusive of an ill father, an overseas scholarship, and staffers’ inability to be effective in her absence, due to their personal issues.
Despite the challenges faced, Shenella ensured that all things worked together for her good. Fortunately, during her tenure at the Hebei Agriculture University in Baoding City, Hebei Province, China, where she secured her Masters in Agriculture, Economics and Management, she had the opportunity to visit a ‘six-step industry.”
“As an agriculturist, it was intriguing to see you can have a six- step industry, where you can have agriculture [sic] produce which can be linked with the service industry. I was fascinated, and I realised there was a bigger concept referred to, as the new agro tourism.”
“My father always tell me I can do agriculture and décor .I could not see how I could have bridged the gap between the two. I am totally amazed of the new concept observed in China. Initially, I wanted a conglomerate, but, this is a different idea, with an agriculture base.
“So, I have repackaged Gifted Hands. The future is to go into a six-step industry where I can use my profession in Agriculture Science, and my passion for décor, linking the two together. So, when you come to me, I would be able to cater for your wedding and give products which I would have grown organically,” she said.
Aside from décor, Benjamin has partnered with Niketa Wong, and together they have launched the Benjamin’s Adult and Domiciliary Care Service Hub, ( named in honour of her father ) which caters for the needs of the elderly.
This business affords young women and single mothers an opportunity to be employed, while becoming beneficiaries of skillsets from an elderly person, whom they might have taken care of.
“Women who are struggling are able to earn by helping an elderly person, who in turn may have a skill such as crotcheting, painting, sewing, cooking, catering etc.. … these necessary skills help to make life and livelihoods, as it was back then. .. It has been lost. Our young women need to be empowered and resilient. There is a need for survival skills,” said Benjamin , the Coordinator of the Division of Agriculture at the University of Guyana Tain Campus.
In view of COVID- 19, the geriatric hub is being rebranded to include escort services and in home care. All staffers are exposed to continuous training offered by the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education and other in-house professional and international training.
Looking back, Benjamin is grateful to God for grace and favour and her father whose decision to stay with his three children, to guide and nurture them after the death of his wife, almost 22 years ago.
‘He kept his vow. He made the sacrifice. His energies were focused on us [George Jnr and Shenella], getting us qualified so we can make a positive contribution to society. I am so glad he stayed,” she said. Shenella.
