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For the past two years, the Taiwanese Embassy, by way of the Taiwan Technical Mission, has been sponsoring the Women Empowerment Project in Belize. Today saw the launch of one of the programs under that project. It's to provide two week training to small businesses run by women entrepreneurs.
We learnt more about it from the area rep.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"Again it's all about empowering women businesses, small business in Freetown. These women will be trained over the next two weeks or so in specific areas, particularly in dealing with marketing, the use of social media, promoting their business and of course and important component of the project, they will also be receiving small grants so that they can then put into use what they have learned over the two week period and use those small grants to expand and grow their businesses."
Reporter:
"What are some of the small businesses that we see in Freetown?"
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"Everything really, we have very creative women who are making baskets, making products out of different types of material, we have of course women who are doing hair, nails, we have women who are cooking, they have their small businesses where they cook food on a daily basis, we have women who are in the tourism business so they're creating products, I think we have one woman who is designing things with coconuts so we have a lot of different ideas, a lot of different products, we have women who are selling clothes online, selling jewelry online, they have the basic ideas but they need help and support."
Donatila Chun, Cultural Jewelry Craftswoman
"I've taken several trainings already so it will benefit me more in years to come."
Reporter:
"How long have you been selling?"
Donatila Chun, Cultural Jewelry Craftswoman
"About 20 years. I'm self employed in the field of arts and culture and that's what helps me pay my bills."
Camille Sabido, Thaj Clothing
"I decided to sign up for this training to expand in my business so I can have businesses in different districts in Belize."
"I'm a mother of three, the smallest with autism and it's hard being a work mom and a home mom so having my own business will help me to take care of him and to maintain my family."
Twenty five women will be a part of the training.
