Region Three women successfully complete sewing, catering courses
Georgetown, GINA, June 25, 2009.
The women’s arm of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) in collaboration with Human Concern International (HCI) today hosted a graduation ceremony for 117 women who successfully completed sewing and catering classes.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, giving the feature address, lauded CIOG and HCI for executing this programme which seeks to empower women by gearing them with skills that will qualify them for employment.
Minister Manickchand addresses the gathering at CIOG/HCI graduation at
Tuschen Masjid, East Bank Essequibo
The Minister challenged the graduands to use their training to enhance their
and their children’s lives and noted that while a lot is being done in Guyana
to better the lives of women; much is also done against them, particularly by
their partners.
Minister Manickchand said that the rise in domestic violence is cause for
concern, despite the fact that Government has done all that it is duty-bound to
do. She said that Government needs the support of religious organizations, civil
societies and other groups to remove women from violent circumstances.
The Minister noted that programmes such as this, provide women with the much
needed tools to be financially independent so that they no longer have to depend
on abusive partners.
A section of the gathering at the graduation ceremony
Minister Manickchand
expressed the hope that CIOG and HCI will make similar interventions to extend
their support to other areas as well.
The main objective of this project is to provide sustainable livelihood
opportunities and income generation to rural Guyanese women. CIOG and HCI
recognize that most rural women are marginalized; hence they are trying to
create employment, build entrepreneurial skills as well as self confidence of
the women.
The six-month programme was partially funded by HCI, a charitable organization
in Canada.
Government
Information Agency (GINA)
.