US Consulate holds AWE prog for NE women
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 13 2021:
In continuation of its programme under the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), US Consulate Kolkata, in partnership with Shillong-based non-profit Asian Confluence, organised boot camp for 25 women entrepreneurs from Northeast India, at the American Centre in Kolkata on Friday and Saturday.
The participants included 11 women entrepreneurs from Manipur.
AWE programme, funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of Education arid Cultural Affairs (EGA), is being implemented in over 50 countries globally and has engaged with more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs despite pandemic challenges.
The US Consulate General Kolkata-led AWE programme marks the first AWE in India, which has supported 150 early-stage entrepreneurs and business owners from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland through a structured online education from the University of Arizona's Dreambuilder course.
This included guided facilitation from alumni and business leaders, as well as technical sessions with the Nexus Incubation Hub at the American Centre in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering on Friday, US consul general Melinda Pavek said, "The United States believes strongly in women's empowerment through entrepreneurship, and stands firmly for women's equality, and inclusion in all public endeavours.
These are challenging times indeed, but an opportunity for us to show the strength and depth of our bilateral relationship.
I am proud of the way we at Consulate Kolkata have continued to adapt our programmes to support entrepreneurs in our region.
Keeping in mind that women in particular face increased challenges during these times, we have stepped up our efforts to support and mentor women entrepreneurs".
The release mentioned that the programme, which kicked off in November 2020, has so far provided Dreambuilder certification to 80 women entrepreneurs.
The Dreambuilder online course was developed by Freeport-McMoRan in partnership with Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, a world leader in international management education.