Women entrepreneurs trained to pitch for funds

SIXTEEN women, all micro entrepreneurs from the March Pen and Corletts Roads communities in Spanish Town, St Catherine, were recently taught how to make a persuasive business pitch to attract funding for their operations.

The women, whose ages ranged from 18 to 40 years, participated in a workshop under the Woman Economic Empowerment Project (WEEP), an initiative of the Girls to Women Development Foundation Limited, a non-profit organisation, based in St Catherine, which has been in operation for the past five years.

“The purpose of the WEEP Programme is to train and develop the morale of women, who have been exposed, or are likely to be exposed to domestic violence. Classes are held from Mondays to Fridays and is for six months,” said Stacy-ann Gavin, managing director, Girls to Women Foundation.

“We’re working to build up their entrepreneurial and social skills. We are also giving them exposure to the importance of gender and development; what constitutes gender-based violence; and what signs to look for, so that they can identify domestic violence.”

Gavin, who is a graduate of The University of the West Indies, said she established the foundation to give back to society.

“I am a graduate of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies at The University of the West Indies and I decided to start the foundation to assist women to make greater contribution to their communities. It is my way of giving back to the country and assisting others through ways I can,” she stated.

The Girls to Women Development Foundation Limited currently receives support from the Civil Society Boost Initiative II, a programme funded by the European Union, and the Rise Life Management Services.

“I wrote a proposal to Civil Society Boost Initiative II and they responded by giving us a grant, which has assisted us to train the women. At the end of the training, each participant will receive a grant to support, or start their businesses,” she