SUVA – United States Chargé d’Affaires ad interim (CDA) Rebecca Owen welcomed over 100 Fijian women entrepreneurs to U.S. Embassy Suva to launch the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) for the third year in a row. AWE enhances women entrepreneurs’ skills in business and marketing through peer-to-peer learning and mentor facilitation.
The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with both the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC), and Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre to implement the AWE program. U.S. State Department funding of US$21,510 (FJ$46,956) will provide opportunities for 170 women to learn skills that they can directly and immediately apply to creating or enhancing their businesses.
CDA Owen said, “This year, like last year, AWE facilitators will provide online and in-person instruction to women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners. AWE will help participants to build their businesses and seek innovative scaling opportunities. We look forward to seeing where this journey leads them.”
The 170 participants come from diverse backgrounds and levels of business expertise. This month, they will begin attending AWE workshops in seven groups of 20-25 women each throughout Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Beyond learning in the academy, they will be mentored and encouraged to share, learn, and network with AWE alumni and members of their group. The Embassy will highlight the progress and successes of participants in the 2022 AWE program on social media over the next seven months. The U.S. Embassy looks forward to seeing participants succeed well beyond the completion of the program.
