Taiwan funding gender empowerment projects in St Kitts and Nevis

 TAIWAN IS FUNDING two women’s community projects in St Kitts and Nevis which blend elements of ‘Apprentice’ and ‘Shark Tank’ which well-known TV producer Mark Burnett created.

Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador, Michael Lin, said Taipei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is elated to fund the initiatives under the auspices of the Women’s Employment, Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion Project and administered by Taipei’s Technical Mission.

“The programme is an important show of support for the global gender equality initiatives and is a response to Goal Five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls,” Ambassador Lin said.

The initiative commenced in November 2021 and is being implemented in seven other countries. However, the St. Kitts-based projects are the first to be approved, the Taiwanese Ambassador said. He said the Basseterre-based schemes align themselves with the key UN SDG global strategy.
Managing Director, Gardenia Destang Richardson, is at the helm of TabSKN Ltd which is implementing the ‘Hustle and Grow’ project, one of the two funded by Taipei.

Prospects for funding pitch their ideas to evaluators, and according to Mrs. Destang Richardson while everyone may not be successful, all will gain invaluable experience and knowledge that certainly auger well for their future.
The other successful initiative ‘Empowering Women Living with Non-Communicable Diseases’. Lake Health and Wellbeing is slated execute this project under the watchful eyes of its Programme Director Abi Begho. Participants will receive capacity-building and financial responsibility skills in addition to learning how to manage their illnesses while still living successful lives.

“With differing approaches, they (Hustle and Grow and The Empowering Women Living with Non-Communicable Diseases) will be important parts of advocating for women’s economic empowerment in the Federation in public health, the media and culture sectors,” Ambassador Ln noted.
Meanwhile, Gender Affairs Minister, Senator Isalean Phillip, praised Taipei for partnering with Basseterre to help improve women’s lives.
“It’s really a great opportunity as it helps to stimulate our NGO non-governmental organisation) sector to support the work that we are doing when it comes to women empowerment and doing that through various projects that seek to be inclusive and innovative,” Phillip said.

The junior minister reminded beneficiaries of Taiwan’s largesse that individual governments, solely, cannot meet all of peoples’ needs but collaboration and partnerships with various stakeholders help.

“Government cannot do it by itself and so we are really grateful for the opportunity to help facilitate that through the Department of Gender Affairs. We look forward to future opportunities to do that and we hope to see continued support and investment in this regard,” Minister Phillip said.