KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines \u2014 November 7, 2025 \u2014 The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) has successfully concluded a two-day financial literacy workshop under its \u201cUnlocking Opportunities through Climate Change Initiative\u201d (UOCCI) project.
Funded by the Organization of American States (OAS) through the Development Cooperation Fund (DCF), the UOCCI project aims to strengthen economic resilience among women and underserved communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The training, held at Frenches House from November 4\u20135, provided community groups and organizations with essential financial management skills to promote self-reliance and sustainability. Participants learned how to effectively manage funds obtained through grants, donations, or income-generating activities, enabling them to better adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Keisha Phillips, CED\u2019s Training and Education Coordinator and UOCCI Project Coordinator, underscored the importance of financial literacy as a tool for empowerment.
> \u201cAs you go through this climate change project, you will begin to identify positive opportunities arising from the impacts of climate change on our country and transform them into revenue-generating initiatives,\u201d she said.
Ms. Phillips further emphasized the need for financial understanding within community organizations, expressing confidence that the workshop would leave participants \u201cmore informed, confident, and capable of managing their finances effectively.\u201d
Instructor Mrs. Simone Murray led the sessions, which were met with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Tristan Williams of Ink Lab Art Studio described the workshop as transformative:
> \u201cI am leaving this programme more informed, more knowledgeable, and with a stronger ability to manage not only the assets in my business but my personal finances as well.\u201d
Keilrick Franklyn from the United League Empowered Development Organisation (ULEDO) praised the sessions as \u201cdetailed and concise,\u201d while Laura Stephens Dublin of the Climate Change Resilience Network called it \u201cone of the best workshops\u201d she has attended.
> \u201cEverybody uses money every day,\u201d she said, \u201cand we need to learn how to manage it effectively.\u201d
Ann-Marie Ollivierre of the Sea Moss Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines noted that the workshop fostered a sense of empowerment toward financial independence.
> \u201cWe are looking forward to more programs like this so we can grow to be more financially dependent on ourselves,\u201d she shared.
Annie Bob of Goshen Farms and the Climate Change Resilience Network commended Mrs. Murray\u2019s facilitation style:
> \u201cHer patience ensured everyone\u2019s questions were addressed, so we all could understand and take something valuable away.\u201d
The three-year UOCCI Project, valued at US$125,000, forms part of the OAS\/DCF 2024\u20132027 programming cycle. It seeks to foster inclusive climate action by supporting women and vulnerable groups to create sustainable livelihoods and build economic opportunities while reducing the adverse effects of climate change.
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KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines \u2014 November 7, 2025 \u2014 The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) has successfully concluded a two-day financial literacy workshop under its \u201cUnlocking Opportunities through Climate Change Initiative\u201d (UOCCI) project. Funded by the Organization of American States (OAS) through the Development Cooperation Fund (DCF), the UOCCI project aims to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mainstory"],"yoast_head":"\n