A young mother earning an income by walking the streets of Georgetown to sell confectioneryYCG’s Dmitri Nicholson (left) and Nadine Sanchara.could be among the targets reached when Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) commences another phase of its Women Entrepreneurship Programme.The programme, which is being done in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is slated to target 60 women from areas in Regions Four and Three when it kicks off in the New Year.With a timeframe of one year, the programme will offer training and support to participating women at absolutely no cost to them, as all costs will be absorbed by UNESCO.According to YCG’s Education Programme Manager, Nadine Sanchara, YCG will from next month begin recruitment of the women to participate in the programme which, in its initial stage, will constitute a series of workshops that emphasise the importance of book-keeping, marketing, networking, strategic planning and communication for businesses.“After the workshops we are going to provide ongoing support for them; we are going to create a network of participants as well as people with experiences in entrepreneurship to provide support, mentorship to them throughout the year,” Sanchara informed.And she pointed out that while the women seeking to participate in the programme must be of the age of consent, there will be no cut-off age.“A person who may be 90 (years old) and has a business but never learned how to manage a business can still come and be a part of this programme,” said YCG’s Executive Director,NFL Jerseys From China, Dmitri Nicholson. He intimated that the recruitment process will see preference being given to women who are already involved in their own small businesses that have been registered. However,Cheap Jerseys Paypal, those who do not have registered businesses but have a desire to so legitimise their businesses will also be considered, Nicholson added.“If it is not registered we can help them through the process. Once you are engaged in some kind of commerce we can help you…providing you are willing to move your business to a different scale (and) make your business a part of the national system.”According to Nicholson, the move to undertake the venture was premised on the recognition that there has been an increase in the number of women entrepreneurs who do not have the necessary skills to make their business sustainable or to diversify. In essence, he noted that “we want to help to make them more sophisticated”.Of particular focus for the programme, too, will be those women who have taken loans from lending agencies such as banks, as according to Nicholson, “we know the difficulties that women may face trying to build a business and repay a loan. So if we can aid them in that process that is what we are aiming for”.YCG, he disclosed, is also working in collaboration with the Women’s Partnership Network, which will also be lending support to recruit women for the planned programme.The Women and Entrepreneurship Programme is one that was first introduced by YCG in 2011 with support from Exxon Mobil. In excess of 50 women were similarly supported then, to the extent that they have expanded their businesses to include other products and services, according to Nicholson.“What we have seen over time is that more and more women are asking for this kind of support and we thought that it might be opportune to help women in general to become sustainable business managers and owners,NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale,” Nicholson said.Those formerly trained were provided with guidance in entrepreneurship which saw them being provided with a mentor to support them in the areas of improving their businesses. The support, Nicholson noted, ranged from managing records to developing manuals for staff and policies for their business, even as they were able to gain a better understanding of cash flow. Once trained, the women are continually supported through a Women’s Entrepreneurship Network,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, and according to Nicholson, “the office (YCG) maintains a ‘hands-off’ support system to make sure that we are aware of how their work is going and what types of needs they have.”This tactic is imperative, he added,Wholesale Jerseys, so that future projects can use those as a measurement on what could be improved.“What this is, is building on what was already existing,” said Nicholson of the newly introduced programme.