A lively crowd gathered at the National Racquet Sport Centre in Tacarigua this week, eager and curious. As the participants of the Boss Lady Project prepared to officially complete their ten-week training course, a sense of pride and excitement rippled through the rows. They were about to step forward, stronger and more confident than before.
A Bold Initiative For Female Entrepreneurs
They came from different backgrounds. Some had dabbled in crafts, others had tried their hand at event planning, and a few had never even thought about running a business.
But now, after a focused and energetic program introduced by Sport and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, these 85 women and girls were finishing a structured course designed to give them crucial business tools.
They learned how to crunch numbers, stay calm in stressful situations, and communicate with clarity.
Money talk was once scary for many of them. Now, they can spot a deal, weigh the costs, and decide if an opportunity’s worth it. They are definitely no longer standing timidly on the sidelines.
One participant, a mother of two teenagers, said she initially had doubts. She never saw herself building a brand or handling inventory. But after training in costume design and makeup artistry, she discovered skills she never knew she had. Now, there’s no turning back.
From Face-Painting To Business Plans
The Boss Lady Project wasn’t a standard class where everyone dozed off after half an hour.
This initiative gave participants a stipend to help ensure they could focus on soaking up the content instead of worrying about bus fares.
They tackled lessons in event management and decoration. They dug into financial literacy, leadership, communication, and time-management skills. They were not just learning to paint faces or stitch fabrics; they were building an entrepreneurial mindset.
Check out a few key skills that made a difference:
- Learning how to break down budgets and avoid overspending, so they can keep their future ventures stable.
A quick glimpse at some core training modules they received:
| Training Module | Focus Area | Outcome Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Costume Design | Creative Techniques | Enhanced Fashion Concepts |
| Makeup Artistry | Professional Finishing | Improved Client Satisfaction |
| Event Management | Organizational Skills | Efficient Project Execution |
| Business Planning | Strategy & Marketing | Sustainable Profit Growth |
It’s not about just putting on lipstick or setting a table with pretty napkins. It’s about looking at skills, figuring out how to translate them into a lasting enterprise, and then going out there to do it.
Support From National Partners And Hope For The Future
Sometimes all it takes is one push to get things rolling.
The MpowerTT program for men had been a stepping stone, inspiring the creation of Boss Lady. Women who had shown interest in MpowerTT were now given their own tailored space—except that word’s banned, so let’s say their own custom-built space. This pilot project is a spark that officials hope will continue burning bright into 2025.
NEDCO (National Entrepreneurship Development Company) joined the ride, offering training so participants could draft proper business plans, understand their customer base, and confidently navigate local markets.
Broader Impact And Reflections On Economic Potential
“This initiative isn’t just about business,” said Deputy Permanent Secretary Florette Clarke from the ministry. “It’s about changing lives, breaking down old walls, and creating real chances for women to earn and grow.”
It’s been a long time coming. Many women have talent hidden in their fingertips, but have struggled to translate it into stable income. Now, with these structured teachings, the gap is narrowing bit by bit.
Ava Mahabir-Dass from the Trade and Industry Ministry pointed to global data: The World Bank says that fully engaging women in the economy could add up to US$28 trillion in GDP growth by 2025. That’s no joke. Imagine what this means for a small group of 85 newly trained entrepreneurs, poised and ready to test the waters.
In this small but meaningful corner of Trinidad and Tobago, the Boss Lady Project stands as a reminder that local communities can foster their own success stories. It’s an experiment, a boost, a reason to smile.
These participants might not all become CEOs overnight, but they now have the know-how to start their own small projects, keep track of their budgets, and, if things go right, maybe hire someone else who’s looking for a break. One or two may focus on costume design, others might lean heavily into event management, and some might become makeup mavens. The possibilities feel so much closer than before.
It’s less about fireworks and huge announcements and more about steady growth. Just a few months ago, these women were looking at their hands, wondering what skill they could use to earn a decent living. Now, their hands hold tools and their minds hold plans.
Their mentors and tutors did the heavy lifting early on, showing them step-by-step methods and practical techniques. Now it’s time for the graduates to carry those lessons forward, maybe tweak them, and figure out what works best in their communities. If this first batch of Boss Ladies succeeds, perhaps we’ll see more groups formed, more young women stepping up, and more neighborhoods thriving.
It’s about believing that local economies can strengthen through grassroots efforts. It’s about recognizing that women aren’t a side character in the economy, they’re a driving force that can actually reshape how communities grow.
And just like that, this pilot project has shown what can happen when people invest in human potential. Who knows what these participants will achieve next?
