YWOP/YMOP Urges Western Jamaica Entrepreneurs to Access Training and Support

Entrepreneurs, especially those based in western Jamaica, are being encouraged to take advantage of the training and business support programmes offered through the Young Women and Men of Purpose (YWOP/YMOP).

Founder and Executive Director, Lanisia Rhoden, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to equipping both aspiring and established entrepreneurs with the tools needed to build and grow sustainable businesses.

“Persons who are interested in entrepreneurship training and support can contact us at Young Women and Men of Purpose. Our website is www.ywop.org. We’re also on social media, on Instagram it’s ywop.ymop… and that’s the same across all social media platforms,” she said.

Ms. Rhoden noted that the organisation collaborates with agencies, corporate foundations, and other partners to deliver programmes throughout the year, adding, “if persons are interested in this type of support, they can reach out to us.”

Meanwhile, Technical Specialist for Socio-Economic Development at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Community Renewal Programme, Charmaine Brimm, underscored the importance of coordinated interventions in strengthening small businesses, particularly through formalisation.

“One of the benefits of coordinating this kind of intervention is to actually help them to elevate themselves above that micro level and to help them to formalise,” she explained.

Ms. Brimm pointed out that business formalisation is a key component of the YWOP/YMOP programme, noting that this positions entrepreneurs to access greater opportunities for growth.

“Whether it is having their business name registered with the Companies Office of Jamaica, among other things,… it essentially puts them in a better position to access additional capacity-building support,” she added.

The initiatives form part of ongoing efforts to promote economic self-sufficiency and strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across communities.