First Lady Ali awards business grants to three single mothers.
On International Women’s Day, First Lady Mrs. Arya Ali presented grants totaling one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) to support the start-up ventures of three single mothers.
The recipients of these grants included Loveveol Cort, aged 38, from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD); Vernalinda Morgan, aged 41, from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD); and Shenelly Gale, aged 34, from Linden, Region 10.
These women had participated in the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s HerVenture program, designed to provide business development training to women.
Under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” International Women’s Day this year aligns with the First Lady’s commitment to leveraging her office to support initiatives that empower women.
“For me, it is not just about repeating slogans and hoping to inspire people and businesses to make investments in women. It is also about leading by example. So today, this contribution to these women is a demonstration of our commitment to continue investing in women to improve their social and economic status,” Mrs Ali said during a short handing over ceremony at her office.
The First Lady emphasised that alongside the monetary assistance for their start-ups, the women would also receive technical support from business coaches Mr. Keon Smith and Ms. Upasna Mudlier of ActionCOACH.
Mrs. Ali urged the women to utilise this opportunity to positively impact the lives of other women and girls.
She stated, “Just as you all are benefiting from a gender-specific program today, I hope you understand that you too have a responsibility to other women and girls; to inspire them and support them as best as you can.”
Expressing gratitude for the support, the three women pledged to diligently work towards the success of their ventures.
In addition to the business grants, the Office of the First Lady is sponsoring 15 vulnerable women on fully funded scholarships at the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
