EC1.3 Million for GARD Center

Details

Economy

Tuesday, 12 February 2013 02:30

By press release

‪‬Antigua St. John's - The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Centre (GARD) today announced the launch of a major project aimed at enhancing the income generating opportunities of vulnerable young women in Antigua
and Barbuda.

The project - the Empowerment of Young Women in Antigua and Barbuda in their Income Generation (YWEP)- has been made possible through a large grant of over EC$1.3 million ($380,002.54 EUR) from the European Union. This is one of the largest grants ever awarded from the European Union to an NGO in Antigua and Barbuda. The project is expected to have a two year life-span.

The YWEP will target over 200 vulnerable young women up to 35 years of age who find themselves unemployed or underemployed. According to the Executive Director of GARD Center, Roberta Williams: “Many of these women have not completed secondary school and will be provided with much needed vocational and entrepreneurial training allowing them the ability to better source jobs or set up their own enterprises.”

Other project objectives will bring attention to gender stereotyping in the vocational choices of women and in carrying out activities to encourage women to enter into the more male dominated employment and entrepreneurial areas. “As such, much of our training will focus heavily on preparing young women to enter the traditionally higher paying male areas.” says Williams. She further states: “We have already initiated courses in yacht maintenance, IT Repair and the driving of heavy duty equipment to name but a few.”

GARD Center will work with a number of institutions and business partners to provide internship and job placement opportunities for the graduates.

A critical component of the programme is the establishment of a Business Development Unit (BDU) in St. John’s, to assist persons who, after training, would like to start their own enterprises. Project Manager of the YWEP, Kareem Francis, says: “With the establishment of the BDU, individuals will now have an avenue and one-stop venue through which they can seek guidance in setting up businesses, access training and source funding through our arrangements with a number of cooperatives.”

The Board and staff of the GARD Center are truly grateful to the European Union for this invaluable partnership as it continues to equip the young women of Antigua and Barbuda with skills to make them more competitive in the global marketplace.

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