Women to benefit
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THE Embassy of the United States in Fiji, in partnership with Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) and Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre, launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program for the third year in a row yesterday.
The AWE program, which has seen a lot of Fijian women from diverse backgrounds and level of expertise become successful businesswomen, is set to have another 170 graduates by January, 2023.
Speaking during the launching ceremony at the Embassy in Suva, United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim (CDA) Rebecca Owen said the AWE program was based on a model of peer-to-peer learning and local mentorship which would help participants to be ready to build their own businesses and seek innovative scaling opportunities.
“Now in 2022, for AWE’s third consecutive year, we selected 170 women from all over Viti Levu, and for the first time Vanua Levu to learn the skills in marketing, branding financial management, networking and leadership through peer woman-to-woman mentorship,” Ms Owen said.
“This year, like last year, AWE facilitators will provide online and in-person instruction to women entrepreneurs and earlystage business owners.
“We look forward to seeing where this journey leads them.”
Program facilitator and WEBC chair Eseta Nadakuitavuki said she’s excited about welcoming the new cohorts for 2022.
“As a facilitator for the last two-years I can say that you will not regret what you’re in for,” Ms Nadakuitavuki said.
“You will learn so many new things to help you as a person, as the owner of your business and to uplift the business that you are already doing.”
AWE 2020 program graduate and successful business owner Stephanie Ho said the program helped to grow a small tailoring business she started out of her sitting room during the first COVID-19
lockdown.
“The tools and the knowledge that I gained during this program allowed me to put everything together and learn how to plan, to prepare a business plan,” Ms Ho said.
“I started with tote bags and now I’m into bulk manufacturing also. It’s a big step.”
Meanwhile AWE 2022 program recipient Rusila Lasaqa plans to start her own hair and beauty business.
The 25-year-old who is a hair stylist joined the program in the hopes of owning her own business and help other women in society by employing them.
“I’ve been in the hair industry for nearly four-years now, doing hairdressing and beauty services,” Ms Lasaqa said.
US State Department funding for the program stands at $US21,510 ($F46,956).