On International Women’s Day (IWD), the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana hosted the fourth annual Guyana Women and Girls’ Summit. This year’s summit focused on including, investing in, and inspiring women in Guyana, According to WCCIG President Ms. Rowena Elliot, investing in women today means investing in the development of tomorrow.
This Summit drew women and girls from all walks of life, with several inspiring presentations from recognisable women in leadership roles in business and education, among other fields, as they worked together to raise awareness about the need for total inclusivity and encourage women to soar beyond societal boundaries. One of the presenters was Ms. Quenita Walrond, an Education Consultant and Managing Director of Atikali Learning Lab Inc.
Ms. Walrond made the observation that giving women and girls relevant skills enhances their employability and empowers them to make better decisions in the future during her presentation on inclusive education and skill development. Many factors, including poverty, forced marriages, and limited access to menstrual hygiene necessities, prevent millions of women and girls worldwide from receiving a quality education.
The education specialist underlined that, while Guyana is doing well in terms of inclusivity at the higher levels, as seen by the fact that women hold the majority of senior positions in the education sector, there is still potential for improvement at the lower levels. There should be greater possibilities for women and girls to be trained in technical and vocational sectors so that they can compete in Guyana’s growing job market.
Cycles of poverty and gender inequality can be overcome by ensuring that girls receive a high-quality education since investing in women is an investment in the future.