Local women get skills to start their own business |28 October 2016

Some thirty young women have benefitted from a three-day workshop hosted by a small group of business leaders originating from the Tacoma, Washington.

The women’s entrepreneurial workshop was organised by the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) in collaboration with the Tacoma group from the United States of America (USA).

During the closing ceremony held at the SNYC office at Orion Mall, an agreement was signed by the chief executive of SNYC Alvin Laurence, consul general for USA Lise Church and founder of numerous art collectives and private entities Linda Danforth.

The team of facilitators led by Ms Danforth also included Andrea Olson Michelle Merritt, Shari Hart, Karen and Jack Orr.

Their trip was sponsored by the Tacoma Sunset Rotary, Fire Mountain Gems, New American Funding along with several other businesses in Tacoma and many individual supporters.

The topics presented were startup creative businesses, collective and teaching jewelry designed and produced from local products; business branding and building networks to promote their product or service; business plan and publishing, sales development and team building; economic development tools for start-ups and benefits of cooperative efforts; and contracts and agreements.

The facilitators and participants also exchanged tokens during the ceremony.

Mr Laurence said the aim of the workshop was to empower women to start their own business and for them to understand the business environment.

“This is to encourage them to create employment for themselves and others, to grow their business and also understand the market they will have to deal with,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of them being able to discover who they truly are and what they are capable of, their strength and weaknesses and what they can focus on which will enable them to gather more wealth for themselves.

He said those who took part were students learning visual art and business, people from the council for the disabled and youth workers.

“We want those who are trained to be able to teach others as we want others to also benefit from what the delegation brought with them,” he said.

He said another workshop will be held next month led by those who attended this one.

Speaking about the agreement signed, Mr Laurence said it was to ensure that the workshop runs smoothly and each body takes up their respective role.

“There are also certain equipment they’ve left behind which can be used for further training and this agreement reassures them that we will take good care of the equipment. Thirdly, it ensures that the cooperation between us strengthens,” he said.

Mrs Orr said the workshop was excellent.

“The girls that we met had a real desire in them to start their business, interested in how to do it and I think here they’re getting some of the training and support that they need in order to be successful in these endeavours,” she said.

She said the idea to share their knowledge about businesses came from Mrs Church after she held a presentation with their rotary club back in the US.

Gilliana Anacoura, who is about to open her own craft business, said, “What I’ve learned will help me with my business plan and has made me aware of the various agencies to go to for help.”