Working families, senior citizens and aspiring entrepreneurs stand to benefit from the government’s $1.2 billion National Co-Invest Care Economy Initiative, which aims to improve access to affordable care while creating new employment and business opportunities across Guyana.
The initiative seeks to transform caregiving from an unpaid responsibility shouldered largely by families into a structured economic sector that supports livelihoods while ensuring children and elderly persons receive appropriate attention and assistance.
In a detailed presentation on her Facebook page, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud explained that the programme intends to reach communities across Guyana, giving working parents greater access to childcare and ensuring senior citizens can receive support in their homes and communities.
“We want to increase persons’ access to affordable child and elder care; we want to support working families, and we want to give you an opportunity to earn through this model,” Minister Persaud said.
Through this initiative, caregivers will be able to establish services that provide supervision and support for children, while elderly care providers can offer companionship, mobility assistance, recreational activities and help with everyday needs.
The programme also creates opportunities for persons to employ others, while businesses can establish childcare facilities for their workers or partner with existing providers.
This can help ease concerns among employees about the safety and well-being of their children or elderly relatives while they are at work.
To broaden participation, the ministry is offering free training for persons interested in entering the sector, including those who have not previously been trained.
Support in entrepreneurship will also help participants develop business models and build services capable of growing over time.
The initiative will focus on safe, community-based and non-medical care for the elderly, alongside appropriate childcare arrangements.
All providers must meet the relevant safety, licensing and registration requirements before commencing operations.