MEMBERS of the Region Two Gender Affairs Committee recently benefitted from a two-day women’s capacity-building workshop, which was organised by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Gender Affairs Bureau.
The workshop was held from May 18 to 19 at the regional State House located at Anna Regina. Certificates which will enable participants to be better advocates were distributed at the end of the workshop. The workshop focused on gender conceptualisation, stereotypes, identities, gender equality and justice.
During the opening ceremony, Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, called on the women to ensure they make maximum use of the training provided to them. De Silva also called on the committee to ensure that males are included in their activities and are part of the regional committee.
The chairperson urged the participants to use their knowledge to educate others on gender affairs issues. She assured the committee that it has the full support of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

“You must use your training to impact those in your communities. Use the training to transform your lives, and be the trainer for others who are not aware of the topic…Spread the information,” De Silva said.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Regional Gender Affairs Committee, Verina Rasheed, said with the training received, the committee will be further strengthened. She thanked the ministry for such an opportunity and later urged the participants to pay keen attention to what was being said during the various sessions.
She told them that the training will enable them to better respond to gender-related issues.
The ministry’s Senior Gender Affairs Officer, Hymawattie Lagan, in her remarks, said this workshop follows one which was held in Region Four. Lagan said that during the Gender and Development training women will be empowered on the topic of gender equality and gender relations and development.

Lagan said the Gender Affairs Bureau operates alongside and provides support to the Gender Affairs Committees in the 10 administrative regions. She said that bureau works closely with the committees to help with the growth and development of all Guyanese citizens.
On the first day, participants learnt about gender and development and gender mainstreaming, while on the second day, the programme included gender and development issues, gender resource mapping and networking, which involved the Family Enhancement Unit, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) and the Probation and Social Services Department.
The participants said the workshop was interesting. They commended the bureau for choosing Region Two.
One of the participants, Ashminine Ramnarine, said that the sessions were very informative. She said she was able to learn a lot on the first day. Ramnarine intends to share her new found knowledge with members of several youth groups.