In September we introduced you to the programme that the National Women's Commission, in Partnership with the Taiwan ICDF had launched to train women in entrepreneurial skills.

The women were taught how to formalize their own businesses, in addition to learning marketable skills. Jomarie Lanza attended the closing ceremony today where the women were given their certificates of completion.

It is divided into two separate trainings for women in the entrepreneurial sector. A total of 80 women had signed up to partake in a series of beauty and entrepreneurial projects that would provide them with the basics of formalizing a business and learning new marketable skills. Fast forward 7 weeks later; those women have completed the programme and now have the opportunity to venture off into the entrepreneurial sector. The president of the NWC shared more with us at the closing ceremony today

Thea Garcia Ramirez, President, NWC
"Well we at the Women's commission we try to empower women, we advocate, educate, and we like to ensure that women have the rightful place. According to the gender index right now in Woman, or still 30% there still a 30% probability of discrimination of being left behind and so we are trying to even that out to ensure that women have the same opportunities that men have, so that's really what did national women's commission is, and we advocate through the ministry of human development but really through all the ministries to ensure that women have that 50% chance of participating in our programs in all areas on facets of Belizean society and life."

"Well, you know you have to be your sister‘s keeper, and I think it's important that especially women try to encourage and support other women in businesses let's not to say that the men are not important in the informal market, informal areas woman make up a large part of that so when you're talking about lives, a woman in informal, labor sectors that's where we are, women mostly make up that sector and so we want to be able to reach out to other women and say you know what try to give this sister a break because especially during the pandemic, a lot of women had to withdraw from the regular workforce, and had to set up their own businesses and they've been entrepreneurs, so we want to say to Belize if you have a choice, go for the woman business go for the lady trying to put food on her table because she has to stay at home as well and look after the children, and maybe that money that she's making that is directly for her family to put food on her table, to pay for classes, to pay for a school supplies to pay for that electricity. So we want to support her and we want to say we support you we see you and we know the good and great job that you're doing and we want to help you make your ends meet."

Garcia says that the NWC strongly advocates for the support of women in the workforce, and hope to erase the 30% probability of discrimination and the likelihood of less women being chosen for job opportunities.

By equipping them with the skills they need to stand on their own and run their own businesses independently if they so wish, not only are they teaching women to create opportunities for themselves but also to help their families financially.

Emil Waight, Programme Officer, NWC
"It's a very special day for them. You know women empowerment is very critical in Belize especially with gender equality. We want everyone to have a fair share of opportunities I am to see these women today going on getting this new skill to progress their future, and probably have a business of their own is something that is probably out of this world, because as you can see often times, men are favored to get certain positions, and women normally take a step back, but now, with this course with this skill set, women can now build something for themselves be their own boss and that's something beautiful to have that independency."

"In total it was 80 participants in all, with the wealth and wellness, It was a breakdown of how to manage your money, how to do it the day today regulars of owning a business establishing that business all the paperwork, so that was very important for them, and then the beauty and entrepreneurship goes hand-in-hand simply, for the fact that these women learn to do here, then to do make up to do nails, which are all critical things when it comes to graduation time wanting to go out and having a hard time booking an appointment, you know these women kind grasp the concept for themselves. They can explore that revenue now."