The US Embassy and the NGO Convoy of Hope held a graduation ceremony for 155 women who participated in the program “Empowerment of Women through Microenterprise.”
This program is part of the initiative of the Department of State “Women Entrepreneurship in the Americas” (WEAmericas), which is responsible of connecting women to economic growth and business opportunities, bringing together the public, private and nonprofit sector to facilitate inclusive growth.
“As noted by the ambassador when this project began, we have that one of the best ways to create a positive change is to invest in women running small and medium enterprises. This is not only because women are talented entrepreneurs, although it is also true. But it is also because women spend their earnings to meet the needs of health and education of their families. By investing their earnings in the health and long-term welfare of their families, they are building a more prosperous and stable future,” said Embassy Press Attaché Molly Sanchez Crowe.
The purpose of the WEAmericas program is to work on supporting female entrepreneurship, breaking down the barriers that women face when trying to start a business. Included among these barriers are: limited access to training and support networks, limited market access and limited access. WEAmericas also seeks to empower women with the training and resources they receive, so that they can generate income and provide for their families in safety and dignity.
and the program benefited women living in rural and urban communities in Santa Ana, San Salvador, Ahuachapán, La Paz, San Vicente, Sonsonate and La Libertad.
The first group of women graduated in a ceremony held in Sonzacate, Sonsonate in November 2013, where about 150 women gained recognition for their effort in the completion of their respective vocational workshops.
