CitCo Hosts a Women’s Empowerment & Leadership Session

The Belize City Council partnered with the Global Entrepreneurship Network to host a Women’s Empowerment and Leadership session to help build the capacity of female entrepreneurs. It is part of a bigger project by the City Council to work with local businesses to establish sustainable micro, small and medium-size enterprises.  Councillor Javier Castellanos says that this initial step is critical to the development of the Old Capital as it is the source of economic growth and prosperity.

Javier Castellanos

Javier Castellanos, Council for Economic Development, Belize City Council

“I believe in this society, women are very influential and they are the backbone of this society. They grow up our children, our daughters. And since I am in the economic development and small businesses, most women if you ask them what do you want to do…I want to start a business. This is the beginning to introduce how we are going about it. And we are planning to have the business community come in and the City Council joining together with them and having them as partners. And with this, we will be able to bridge the gap.”

Helen Frampton

Helen Frampton, Representative, Institute of Sustainable Livelihood Leadership and Exchange

“It was a last minute idea that came up so sudden and one of my members was here from Jamaica and she met with Councillor Castellanos and when meeting with him right away he was so excited to be a part of this event.  On my end starting next year, I will be looking for funding outside. Not huge amount of funding. I mean our country, we have a lot of small entrepreneurs and to me, we forget them and focus on the bigger ones. So we want to start looking at the ones that go sell the salbutes, make the bread and bun. So find funding for them that can actually have them continue. Maybe get some mentoring so that they have everything in place to make them successful.”