WHEN the odds were stacked against Olivia David, a self-made young woman who was taught to rely on her inborn skills, she utilised the opportunities she had to become an entrepreneur who provided for herself and her family.
This is the kind of woman who gets up well before the crack of dawn to cook, clean and invest time and effort into a small business she started from her home as an agro-processor.
David was born and raised in the historic community of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, a village renowned for its rich African heritage and culture.
As the youngest of three siblings in a single-parent household, she learned the values of hard work, resilience and determination from an early age.
Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, David has dedicated herself to personal growth and community development.
Over the years, she has earned certificates in agro-processing, beekeeping, soap-making, catering, décor management, cosmetology, and several other areas, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and self-improvement.
She is a passionate advocate for her community who has consistently worked to uplift and support those around her.
Her love for Bagotville Village and its people has inspired her to contribute positively to community development and create opportunities for others.
Above all, David is a devoted mother to six children, three girls and three boys. She is determined to build a lasting business legacy, establish a respected name and create a meaningful history that will inspire her children and future generations.
Through her dedication, perseverance and service to others, she continues to be a positive role model and an example of strength and ambition within her community.
David’s mother passed away when she was 15 years old and left her with life skills so that she could become resourceful and make a living as an entrepreneur.
Before her passing, Olive Hinds did everything she could to teach her daughter to do things with her hands and become industrious so that she could earn a living after she was no longer around.
David stated that her mother was a talented woman who used the resources she had to make a living, including rearing chickens, cooking, baking, and sewing, among other things.
Although David benefitted from a secondary education, she had to prematurely drop out of school when finances became tight.
But these setbacks did not deter her from realising her true potential. They actually motivated her to become the best version of herself as a self-employed woman, ready to take on a small business.
David credits her success to her late mother, who was wise beyond her years and made sure she would be able to take care of herself even after she was gone. Today, she is grateful for those life lessons.
She recalled being among the youngest students at Carnegie School of Home Economics in the night classes alongside her mother, memories she treasures these days, which stand as a reminder that life does not stay the same all the time.
It was at Carnegie School of Home Economics that she received her first certificates and moved on to more advanced courses, which upskilled her considerably.
David told Pepperpot Magazine that those life skills helped her make things to sell and earn money, which she used to upgrade her education so she could also empower others, especially vulnerable groups in the community.
“Life skills became my lifeline, making salted fish, rearing Creole fowls, among other things. I did what I knew to survive, got children and I used my hands to make things to earn. These are the things I did to see myself through life as a woman,” she said.
David related that, as part of her volunteer work, she used to sew at 16 for the Bagotville group.
She was solely responsible for sewing all the outfits for the young ladies’ performances overnight, and it would take her all night to complete them, but she had fun doing it. The very next day, she would be out supporting them in every way possible, and it was those things that brought her so much joy in those days.
David stated that volunteerism is more than having your name called at meetings. It is much more than that; it is all about uplifting others and playing a vital part in community-based development.
“We are here, vibrant, and at every opportunity we get we try to do something to uplift others in the village since Bagotville has two CDC groups and she is a part of the Outer Bagotville CDC group.”
David added that, as a mother of six, she would also like to pass on her life skills to her children so they, too, can become empowered to lead successful lives on their own entrepreneurial paths.
“Community work is a passion for me, to help others. I don’t just want my name to be called. I do training courses to teach others teddy-bear making, cake making, floral arranging, sewing, baking and cooking at the community level to empower them. Life skills were my form of survival, and they gave me a sense of purpose and belonging when people I cannot remember come up to me to say thank you for passing on life skills to them because they too have small businesses that they earn from. So my purpose is to help others,” she said.
