Women In Business Enhance Skills Through Training

Twenty-four women entrepreneurs from Belize City are on their way to improving their businesses and increasing their profits. Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the United Women’s Group and the Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize, held a closing ceremony for its three-week women in business training course. Upon completion, each entrepreneur received grant funding to assist in applying their training and further growing their businesses. News Five’s Paul Lopez was at the ceremony. He filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Today, twenty-four women from the Freetown community in Belize City are better equipped to manage their businesses. The entrepreneurs completed a three-week business strategy and innovation training through the United Women’s Group and the Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize. Maria Marin is the President of Freetown United Women’s Group

Maria Marin

Maria Marin, President, Freetown UWG

“It involved intense training in business management. The women described their business. We had them come up with a business plan and financial plan. Where do they hope their business to go, the projecting is maybe a year or two, where do they see their business. Then we assisted them with the proper help, because a lot of them do not know much about business. They just run their business and don’t know they could make a big profit.”

Kelsey Codd, the owner of Grace Skin Care by Kelsey, was among the participants in the training. She has been marketing her natural skin care products on social media. Codd says her next mission will be to increase her business’ online presence.

Kelsey Codd

Kelsey Codd, Entrepreneur

“Definitely I believe a needed training, especially in the field of entrepreneurship. I feel that a lot of Belizeans women have their businesses but lack certain strategies in terms of marketing and production. So it definitely widens the horizon for women in this program. I decide to become an entrepreneur simply because I wanted to create self empowerment for myself as a woman. I always had a drive to be creative and to have a vision in term of creating something for Belizeans.”

A second entrepreneur, Suzette Usher is looking to take her basket weaving business to the next level. She has identified a new location in the city and she now believes that her products can sell on the international market.

Suzette Usher

Suzette Usher, Entrepreneur

“My plan is to start selling souvenirs such as key holders, candle holders, and hat etc to the tourists as this is one of their main stops at the Belize sign. As I mention souvenirs is just part of expanding my business. The biggest picture is to start expanding my products to the U.S. market. I chose the U.S because I already have a fan base their which includes my children in different states, and I have my family and friends that I already told them about the idea.”

Each participant walked away with two thousand, three hundred dollars in grant funding. The monies are to be invested in the strategies they developed during the three-week program. Alexya Perez, the Project Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Secretary in the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Irene Wu, encouraged the women to pursue their goals with confidence.

Alexya Perez

Alexya Perez, Project Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Going forward if anybody asks you what do you do, I want you to proudly say I am an entrepreneur. I am a business woman. Don’t let anyone take that for you, because really and truly for so long , women they have contributed to the household income by maybe doing work at home, sewing products, selling them and when you ask her what does she do, she says I am a house wife. No you are not a house wife, you are a business woman, an entrepreneur. You really contribute to your household. You are a role model to your children and family.”

Irene Wu

Irene Wu, Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

“We think this training is timely and very relevant to help the women in the community to strengthen your marketing strategy and to empowering growth and to build resilience. We are encouraged by your ambition and the courage to strive not only for yourselves, but especially many single moms, for your kids and family and furthermore to the community. So, I really hope that this program’s support will be a blessing to your future endeavors.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.