Programme Patron of the Hands Extended Reaching Out (HERO) Mom-Preneurship Project and Minister of Labour, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo addressing the 2016 Graduating Class at the Valley Resource Centre in St. George. (H.Reece/HRDS Unit)

Programme Patron of the Hands Extended Reaching Out (HERO) Mom-Preneurship Project and Minister of Labour, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, addressing the 2016 graduating class at the Valley Resource Centre in St. George. (H.Reece/HRDS Unit)

If you love what you do, then you will truly never work a day in your life.

This belief was emphasised recently by Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, in her address to the 2016 Graduating Class of the Hands Extended Reaching Out (HERO) Mom-Preneurship Programme, at the Valley Resource Centre in St. George.

Speaking in her capacity as Programme Patron, Senator Byer Suckoo stated that in her interaction with several young women over the years, she noticed many of them were highly skilled and needed an outlet for their talents.

As such, this led to the establishment of the three-month HERO Mom-Preneurship Programme, which was coordinated to empower single mothers from St. George and provide business incubation support for their developing ventures.

Senator Byer Suckoo told the 23 graduates: “When you are doing whatever is your joy to do, yes you get paid for it and you do have regular hours…but when you are pursuing something that you are passionate about, it never really feels like work. You get tired, but it never really feels like work”.

Having seen first-hand the benefits of embracing this creed in life and particularly business, the Minister said that the programme was about encouraging the participants to “set goals and achieve them”.

According to her, this approach was instrumental in ensuring that persons were living meaningful lives; and not “drifting from day to day”.

“We hope that we have been able to give you some tools over the past three months that would help you to set some goals for yourself…This Mom-Preneurship project has been our turn to help you to set those goals…and achieve real independence for yourself and for your family,” the Labour Minister stressed.

Programme Coordinator and Executive Director of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries, Graham Clarke, also shared in the Minister’s sentiments. He lauded the women for their drive and determination throughout the project’s sessions and commended many of them for records of perfect attendance.

“One of the keys to succeeding is discovering what you love… This is really a significant moment in the history of St. George and for the women in this programme…who continue to push and move forward even after bearing a child or children,” he remarked.

The graduates of the Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS) funded Mom-Preneurship Programme were each presented with certificates of participation.

malissa.brathwaite@barbados.gov.bb

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