FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s Chamber Launches Youth Arm at Recently Concluded Guyana Women and Girls Summit
March 15, 2021 (WCCIG Secretariat): The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) brought women and girls across Guyana face to face with women in leadership, inspirational speakers and industry leaders at its inaugural Guyana Women and Girls Summit (GWAGS) 2021. The event was held on Monday, March 8th, 2021, in celebration of International Women’s Day, under the theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”.
Women leaders and executives from various industries participated in panel discussions on topical issues such as Equality in a Post-COVID era, Young Girls in Leadership, Women and Girls in Tech, Personal Branding, Mentorship, Claiming your Power and Women in Oil and Gas.
Commenting on the salience of women-focused events and women’s networks in a Covid-19 world and beyond, Co-Founder of the WCCIG, Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, noted, “The WCCIG notes that this is the beginning of a new era. A superior generation of girls and women are upcoming. Many ideas were birthed, passions developed, and dreams realized. COVID-19 presented a chance to get in touch with our values, review our priorities and understand what is essential in our lives.”
The WCCIG will continue to use its strategic alliances in executing it’s plan of work to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs. Ushering in the WCCIG Youth Arm – Youth Connect and Commerce (YCC) the Vice President of the WCCIG – Lyndell Danzie-Black encouraged youth to identify mentors within their communities and organizations and outlined the approach to fostering a fruitful mentoring relationship. Through the YCC, the WCCIG aims to bridge the gap between the skills acquired vs skills in demand by establishing youth development programs, training and learning networks, skills development centres, and investor meet-ups.
The WCCIG recognizes that Business Services Organizations play a pivotal role in supporting entrepreneurship. In its thrust to foster economically empowered youth, the YCC will be supported by a team of business leaders, government representatives, subject matter experts and innovators who will serve as mentors and provide guidance on the programmatic focus of the YCC.
As we analyse the outcomes of our Summit, the WCCIG is advocating for policies targeted at women owned businesses and continues to encourage gender diversity, inclusiveness and full participation of women in economic matters. We propose that women owned startups should benefit from a tax moratorium of two (2) years to afford the development of th eir business with less pressure. We also advocate for loan windows and grant assistance to women owned businesses.
The entire broadcast can be viewed at the official GWAGS website, www.gwags.com as well as the WCCIG Facebook Page.
The WCCIG extends its gratitude to ExxonMobil Guyana, SBM Offshore, Gaico Construction & General Services Inc., E-Networks, BranderZ Guyana and Comfort Sleep for their support of the first Guyana Women and Girls’ Summit. The WCCIG looks forward to corporate Guyana’s continued cooperation as it aims to engage women more fully and address barriers to women’s career development and overall well-being.
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For more information, contact:
Latoya Jack, Director and Fundraising Lead, WCCIG (592)-691-1564