The U.S. Embassy signed a grant with the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) to run the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) for 60 to 90 Fijian women business owners. The US$17,360 AWE grant will allow for trained facilitators from WEBC and the Makoi Women’s Vocational Center to guide women business owners through a training program. The facilitators, who are also local business experts, will lead sessions in vital areas of entrepreneurship and business management while addressing Fiji-specific topics useful to entrepreneurs.
U.S. Ambassador Joseph Cella said, “We are delighted to invest in the development of women entrepreneurs, empowering them as business leaders, and inspire other prospective entrepreneurs. We have found when women lead, they raise their families and communities up with them. We look forward to seeing the AWE participants become future business leaders.”
Participants will come from a range of backgrounds and levels of business expertise. Beyond learning in the academy, they will have the opportunity to share, learn, and network with other members of their cohort. The benefits of the AWE program will continue long after the program ends as it will provide the participants an opportunity to apply skillsets learned through AWE to their own businesses and become part of a robust network of women business leaders.
The AWE Program, delivered to six groups of 10-15 women throughout the country, will incorporate DreamBuilder online training with as part of the facilitator-led workshops. DreamBuilder is a free online entrepreneurial training module that teaches women the skills and knowledge to start and grow their own businesses.
WEBC, a member of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) will manage the grant. The AWE facilitators from WEBC and the Makoi Women’s Vocational Center, received virtual training from the AWE team in Washington, D.C. last month. The U.S. Embassy is proud to work with both organizations to promote local economic development. Ambassador Cella signed on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, WEBC Chair Eseta Nadakuitavuki signed for FCEF and Shazna Khan for Makoi Women’s Vocational Center.