Ninety Indigenous women from five communities in regions One, Eight and Nine are to receive literacy and numeracy training under a programme launched at Massara Village.
The initiative, Project ANAIM, is being implemented by Food For The Poor (Guyana) Inc (FFTP) with funding from the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI).
ANAIM is derived from a Carib word meaning “Women of Strength”. The programme will serve women from Turu Mission, Kopinang, Fairview, Toka and Massara, according to a press release issued yesterday from the project.
Over several months, participants will receive practical instruction in reading, writing and numeracy. The programme will also focus on basic financial skills, the management of information and everyday decision-making.
The initiative is intended to help women overcome geographic, financial and social barriers to education and to participate more confidently in family, economic and community affairs.
ExxonMobil Guyana Socio-economic Manager Lorna Carlson said many women face difficulties in accessing education because they live far from schools and training centres or have financial and family responsibilities.
“Project ANAIM is helping to change that,” she said.
FFTP Chief Executive Officer Andrea Benjamin said one of the programme’s main aims is to build the participants’ confidence when dealing with community leaders, teachers, healthcare workers and government officials.
“When the RDC engages with residents, we want to hear more women asking questions and contributing their own ideas to discussions about development and their communities,” Benjamin said.
The organisation will work with village councils, toshaos and regional education offices to deliver the training in the participating communities.
Programme participant Leonie Edwards said she expects the training to benefit her family, particularly in the management of money.
“When they teach us about financial matters, I will be better able to account for the money that I spend,” she said.
Region Nine Regional Councillor Berney Robertson urged the participants to support one another, telling them that it was never too late to learn.
The GGI is a 10-year, US$100 million programme financed by the Stabroek Block co-venturers ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana. It funds projects in education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, capacity building and economic diversification.
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