Sixteen participants from Region Three are gaining practical carpentry skills through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, delivered in collaboration with Nations Incorporated.
The participants are currently undergoing training at the Leonora Technical Institute, where they are being equipped with skills that can support employment, entrepreneurship and greater financial independence.
A single mother, Coreen Thomas, one of the participants of Good Fortune, shared that the training is an opportunity to acquire a skill that can create new possibilities for her and her family.
“I came today for the carpentry course, which I have learned a lot from, especially as a single parent. Learning a skill is the best thing right now, especially when I am in the world of work,” Thomas said.
Another participant, Bibi Shaneeza Salem of Port Naitasiri, said the training is also helping her work towards her goal of building a home for her family.
The mother of two said the rising cost of construction has made the goal challenging, but the skills gained through the programme will allow her to take on some of the work herself.
“I am a mother of two, and I am thankful to the Ministry for this opportunity and the skills that I learned here. It really benefits me because I am building a house and the construction fee is very high, so I cannot afford everything,” Salem said.
Upon completion of the training, participants will earn an internationally accredited City & Guilds certification, providing them with a recognised qualification in carpentry.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s efforts, under the leadership of Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, to provide women with practical and marketable skills that can improve their access to employment and income-generating opportunities.
Through WIIN, participants are being encouraged to pursue skills traditionally viewed as male-dominated, while gaining the confidence and qualifications needed to create opportunities for themselves and their families.