A WALK through Stabroek Market or a scroll through Facebook reveals small businesses steadily building their name. Now imagine one of those businesses, owned by a woman, becoming a major supplier, trusted to serve international events right here in Guyana.
Would you call it luck, or would you recognise the work behind the transformation? The AccelerateHer programme is designed to make that kind of growth possible.
With the launch of its latest cohort, AccelerateHer continues to advance its mission to equip women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to scale. At its core, the programme takes the ambition of Guyanese women and turns it into real opportunity. Supported by the Greater Guyana Initiative through the Centre for Local Business Development, it reflects a broader national shift. Wealth generated from oil and gas is being reinvested into people, into skills, and into long-term growth. It is a reminder that Guyana’s greatest asset is not only what lies beneath the ocean, but the talent and determination of its citizens.
This is not an experiment. Since 2021, AccelerateHer has steadily built a track record of results. More than 150 women entrepreneurs have entered the programme’s boot camp phase, and over 100 have completed it. Behind these numbers is something more important than statistics. Participants gain structured business training, access to professional networks, and the confidence to compete at a higher level. It is the kind of support that allows a woman from Linden or Mabaruma to step into a boardroom and present her business with clarity and confidence.
The real impact, however, is best understood through the voices of the women themselves. Thelma Bess, an indigenous agro processor, described the programme as a learning experience that helped her map out possibilities she had never considered before. At this year’s launch, another past participant, Ann Marie Machado of Auto Climate Solutions, shared a similar transformation. She noted, “AccelerateHer not only allowed me to learn how to grow my business, but it also gave me the confidence to talk about it. During and after the programme, I walked into many rooms, met influential people through networking opportunities that have helped my business grow significantly.”
These stories highlight what makes the programme effective. It does not attempt to change who these women are. Instead, it strengthens what already exists. With the right support, women entrepreneurs are expanding beyond traditional small-scale operations and entering more competitive sectors, including those linked to the offshore industry. In doing so, they are proving that local businesses can meet and exceed international standards.
The work of the Greater Guyana Initiative extends beyond entrepreneurship alone. While AccelerateHer focuses on today’s women business leaders, other programmes are investing in the next generation. The Regional Accelerator for STEM Students’ Readiness (RASSR) camp helps to equip young people with practical skills for a changing economy. Launched in 2022, RASSR aims to stimulate interest in science and technology while supporting students as they prepare to make key career decisions.
GGI also recently launched FLOW, a national water purification and sustainability initiative for public secondary schools, TVET institutions, and special needs schools in Guyana. The four-year initiative aims to improve access to purified drinking water for more than 58,000 students across 141 public secondary schools, 10 TVET institutes, and four special needs schools by 2029.
At the same time, GGI continues to invite proposals for new projects that can expand opportunity and drive inclusive development across Guyana. Calls for proposals are open until April 30 for organisations and groups seeking funding to support impactful initiatives.
Together, these efforts point to a broader vision. Guyana’s development is not meant to benefit a select few. It is intended to create opportunity at every level of society, from the classroom to the boardroom. Programmes like AccelerateHer show what is possible when investment is paired with intention.
For women with business ideas waiting to be developed, or for those already building something of their own, the message is clear. Opportunity is growing, but it must be met with action. Women entrepreneurs are encouraged to follow the Centre for Local Business Development and apply when the next round of AccelerateHer applications opens next year.
Guyana is transforming, and the real question is not whether opportunity exists, but who is prepared to take hold of it.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
