Taiwan ROC-funded empowerment programme helps women improve their employability
KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES — More than three dozen Vincentian women are set to pursue meaningful careers after graduating from a Women’s Empowerment Programme (WEP) funded by Taiwan ROC.
This now makes the sixteenth successful cohort of graduates of the programme, which has seen some 306 participants learn technical skills to become gainfully employed.
Hundreds of women have successfully graduated from WEP and found jobs.
According to a government statement on the matter, “Forty more Vincentian women have benefitted from the Women's Empowerment Programme (WEP) through the Republic of China in Taiwan.
“The WEP Graduation Ceremony for Cosmetology and Sewing Skills Training took place on Friday, January 20, 2023…”
WEP was created back in 2020 when “both the ROC and the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines realized that there was a need to assist women, particularly in skills training”.
This latest cohort of graduates upholds the reputation of a long-successful programme that has been benefitting residents on the ground and helping them to secure jobs that afford them a decent standard of living.
Further, Taiwanese Ambassador to St. Vincent & the Grenadines Peter Sha-Li Lan pledged his nation’s continued support in this regard as he emphasized the importance of continued vocational education.
Taiwan ROC continues efforts to support jobs in SVG
The ambassador’s comments were timely as Vincentian officials called “for more stakeholders to come onboard, as support is always needed”.
Indeed, Taiwan ROC has been investing in similar employment and development programmes throughout the Caribbean of late.
Many of its programmes have been geared towards women and single mothers particularly, helping them with skills training and entrepreneurial development.
Hundreds more young residents will gain hands-on experience with a new job placement programme.
However, it has also supported education and employment initiatives for youth, such as the Offering National Support for Internship Training and Employment (ON-SITE) programme set to begin in SVG next month.
Through ON-SITE, some 175 young Vincentians will benefit from job placement and on-the-job training at their respective places of employment.
The programme will last at least six months, during which time interns will also receive a monthly stipend even while they are receiving hands-on training.
There is also a possibility that employment will continue once the six months are up, providing an accessible pathway to long-term careers for youth participants.
It is available for those ages 18 to 34.
The SVG government “acknowledged the support given by Taiwan ROC on a number of other initiatives including scholarships, Support for Education and Training (SET) and Youth Empowerment Service (YES) programmes, WEP and the newly launched ON-SITE programme as tools to further educate and empower Vincentians”.
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