Aligned with the United States National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, the AWE program aims to empower women by providing them with the knowledge, networks and access necessary to launch and expand successful businesses.
Santo Domingo.- The Embassy of the United States in the Dominican Republic and the Pontifical Catholic Mother and Teacher University (PUCMM) celebrated the graduation ceremony of the fourth edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program, with 66 graduates from 20 provinces of the Dominican Republic.
These entrepreneurs lead small businesses in the areas of beauty, wellness, food, health, arts, education and other professional services. They were selected from over 700 applications received from across the country.
The rector of PUCMM, Reverend Father Doctor Secilio Espinal, highlighted the importance of promoting initiatives that guarantee entrepreneurial training, as a way to reduce inequalities and improve people’s quality of life.
“You are no longer the same as you were five months ago. You have a new vision, a new way of seeing life, of behaving, of facing challenges. You now have a more proactive and strategic outlook to improve yourself personally, as a family, and socially. This is why education offers people the necessary tools to get out of poverty and contribute to economic development,” said the rector.
In addition, Secilio Espinal urged the graduates to continue fulfilling their goals and entrepreneurial projects.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Patricia Aguilera, explained that programs such as AWE are part of the embassy’s priorities.
“It always gives me so much encouragement to see a group of women like you who are leaders, because you are the change in every community, in every country. You are the change that the world needs,” said Aguilera.
During the presentation of results, Claribel Ferreiras, director of PUCMM Emprende, highlighted that this AWE cohort has had the greatest reach, with 66 graduates and participants outside of Santiago and Santo Domingo.
Ferreiras addressed the high rating given by the entrepreneurs, who described the program as a transformative experience (87%), with improvements in areas such as entrepreneurship and finance. “Likewise, 72% of the participants said that after this academic training, their business increased sales,” added Ferreiras.
delivery of certificates
Prior to the presentation of certificates, entrepreneurs Anny Marrero from Grupo Marrero; Desiree Echavarría, with Fisiobalance, and Stephanys Matías, with her project Sweet & Curly, made a pitch or presentation of their company, as a demonstration of the training they received. The event closed with recognition to the teachers of this project, Claribel Ferreiras, Rossy Smester and Raisa Valerio.
The fellows participated in an intensive hybrid program that began last February and combines the DreamBuilder business management training platform, developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Management.
The program also included mentoring and specialized sessions led by the National Industrial Property Office (ONAPI), the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII), and practical pitch sessions or business speeches.
