The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center), is pleased to announce its latest partnership with the European Commission.  The two year project entitled “Empowerment of Young Women of Antigua and Barbuda in their Income Generation” is one of the largest grants ever awarded to an NGO in Antigua and Barbuda. This European Union grant is in the amount of 1.3 million EC$ (380,002.54 EUR).
The project will target over 200 young women up to the age of 35 years, increasing their ability to source jobs and or establish their own enterprises.  Working with vulnerable women who are unemployed and underemployed poses many challenges. The GARD Center hopes to address these challenges through the combination of training, work placement and other support services.
The women wanting to start their own business will have access to business development services provided by the GARD Center’s upcoming expanded Business Development Unit.  Other project objectives will bring attention to gender stereotyping in vocational choices of women and carrying out activities to encourage women to enter into the more male dominated employment and entrepreneurial areas. The public and strategic agencies will also be engaged to discuss and examine the issues confronting vulnerable women, and the strategies to overcome them.
This project commenced in January 2013. The GARD Center for 23 years has been working with young people with a special focus on women in offering entrepreneurial, technical and vocational training with job placement services.
The Board and staff of the GARD Center are truly grateful to the European Commission for this invaluable partnership as it continues to equip the young women of Antigua and Barbuda with skills to make them more competitive in the global marketplace.