By Iva Wharton
More and more women in Guyana are turning to business as a means of supporting their families and empowering themselves financially
However, it is not always smooth sailing. Many women face challenges that are central to the success or failure of their businesses; accepting payment and access to financing, just to name a few.
In this regard, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women under its HerVenture initiative has partnered with several local companies; Action-Invest Caribbean Inc, GTT under its Mobile Money brand and Exxon Mobile Foundation, to change the prospects of women-owned businesses in Guyana.
Starting in 2008, the Cherie Blair Foundation has provided support to thousands of women internationally.
Through its HerVenture mobile application Guyanese women entrepreneurs can conduct transactions without a bank account.
Lianne Baker, Senior Manager with the Cherie Blair Foundation for women speaking at the launch of new content under the HerVenture Application on Tuesday August 2nd, said more than 4,000 Guyanese women have downloaded and are using the application to grow their businesses.
She explained that under the HerVenture initiative, they have worked with twenty-six women through the Road to Growth program. That program she said will be expanded this year to accommodate 100 women and this will include women from Regions 5, 6, and 10.
In a separate program, sponsored by Access to Finance, forty women received training that saw them being equipped with the skills and knowledge on how to access financial support for their businesses. That program she said will also be expanded.
Other programs that will be incorporated as part of the HerVenture initiative are the road to leadership and a regional mentoring component, Baker said.
“We have been really lucky to collaborate with ActionInvest and GTT to develop this new learning track for HerVenture which is focused on mobile money and how women entrepreneurs can use this to enhance their businesses. Mobile Money provides an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to make more flexible payments without a bank account and also to expand their customer reach”
GTT’s Mobile Money Manager, Bobita Ram explained that the company is pleased to be doing its part in the empowerment of Guyanese women.
Ms. Ram said that given the challenges facing women not only locally but internationally, it was significant that GTT contributed to the development of the learning track as part of the HerVenture Application.
“We looked at the barriers and challenges facing women entrepreneurs today as they seek to grow their businesses and we identified ways in which mobile money can, not only create wealth but also provide them with the tools to increase their efficiency”
The track she explained underscores certain elements such as selecting the right mobile money provider; how to determine the best way to implement Mobile Money into your business; how to overcome the challenges when first implementing Mobile Money into your business and how to maximize the use of Mobile Money to ultimately grow that business.
According to Ms. Ram, with the help of the Cherie Blair team, they have been able to make the content fun and user-friendly.
“We recommend that everyone who has downloaded the HerVenture app, take a look at this new track. We are sure that by implementing Mobile Money into your business, your everyday lives will be thoroughly transformational”. She said that of the 700 agents countrywide a substantial number are women.
Human Services Minister, Dr. Vindya Persaud said collaboration is very important when embarking on such projects.
“If we are to work in silos, in vacuums, we will never be able to have the immeasurable impact that we are having today. It is important to not only partner but to see how we can structure our programs to perfectly complement each other, to ensure that those whose lives that we are trying to tangibly touch, can benefit in immeasurable ways.
Dr. Persaud said that empowerment programs offered by her Ministry such as the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) have contributed to the number of women entrepreneurs signing-on to the HerVenture application.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller who has been lending support to the initiative said that with Guyana being one of the fastest growing economies, Guyanese need to be ready and be prepared; but you can’t have half of the population left behind.
“That is why having women so involved and so trained is so important. Building human capital is going to be the secret of Guyana’s success and all the different initiatives that are happening are party to that story.
“For the HerVenture app it is simple and easy to use and as I have gone around the country, I have seen people using it”
According to her, it has surpassed expectations and the HerVenture team should be congratulated for it.
Two users of the HerVenture app said the program has truly impacted their businesses. Renuka, a graphic artist and social media manager said she has learned a lot since signing on to the application in December of last year.
“I love that at the end of the modules you can test yourself. The app is made for every woman, whether you are a student, mom, or you are working like me”
She explained that her daily commute from Mahaica to Georgetown was the period she chose to study.
“It was a great experience as the app allows you to do the modules whether you are online or offline. I believe there is so much information on the HerVentue app and as women, it is important to educate yourself. The HerVenture App teaches you everything whether you are looking to start a business, managing a business or you are seeking to expand your business”
From the app, you can learn simple marketing strategies, incorporate modern technologies into your business and how to take advantage of the e-commerce platform.
Shermaine an MMG agent and owner of Fast Print, said Mobile Money has improved her business 100 percent.
Describing her operation as a little business, which does some printing and photocopying she decided to give MMG a try.
“I will say that MMG has helped my business 100 percent. It has helped my business tremendously. You can pay any bill from the comfort of your home”
She said given the improvements she has seen in her business; she has never regretted the decision to sign up.
“In the future, I would like to place my own business on MMG; where somebody can send a document; print and deliver it and then pay through MMG; which is going to be simple and easy”
Chief Executive Officer of the ActionInvest Caribbean Inc. Davitri Doerga said they aim to target 6,000 women this year through the HerVenture Application.
“My message to my fellow women entrepreneurs across Guyana is to download and fully utilize the HerVenture application”
Guyana she said has a bright future but to make that future a reality calls for self-development and the provision of products and services of the highest standards.