Entrepreneurs Reap Rich Dividends Through PIOJ Training

For dozens of emerging and aspiring entrepreneurs, the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Realise, Embrace and Achieve Your Purpose (REAP) training programme marked a defining moment in their journey towards building sustainable livelihoods.

The one-year initiative, implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) through its Community Renewal Programme (CRP), and in partnership with Young Women/Men of Purpose (YWOP/YMOP), was designed to empower entrepreneurs to become agents of change within their families and communities.

Participants were drawn from the CRP project communities in St. James, Clarendon, and Kingston and St. Andrew.

Over the course of the year, they were exposed to practical instruction in business modelling, marketing, digital marketing, financial management, taxation, and health and wellness, all geared towards creating well-rounded, resilient entrepreneurs.

The training culminated with an Entrepreneurship Conference in Montego Bay in May.

Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Whysked Away, Kimali Cunningham, tells JIS News that the experience “has been life-changing”.

The pastry-making business, based in Green Island, Hanover, specialises in authentic Jamaican treats.

“The entire programme has made me investment-ready,” she said, noting that it “provided a stepping stone for me because I had lacked a lot of materials and they gave me the knowledge that I needed. They also provided mentorship for me and it has helped towards getting my business where it needs to be.”

Renee Russel Reid, who owns the Clarendon-based Style Studios by Renz, which specialises in lash extensions, told JIS News that the entire programme has uplifted her business.

“It’s helped me to develop a better understanding of how to start and manage my business. I also learned the key concepts about budgeting, marketing, customer service, and business planning.

So, the programme helped me to build my personal development, which helped me to be more confident and improve my communication skills,” she noted.

Technical Specialist for Socioeconomic Development, CRP, Charmaine Brimm, told JIS News that the training was part of a wider push to strengthen communities by building economic independence from within.

“One of the primary mandates of the CRP is to coordinate the delivery of services in our target parishes, and within that context, one of the pillars that we look at is socio-economic development,” she pointed out.

“We’re really looking to see communities achieve economic self-sufficiency, meaning that they are empowered to be able to take care of themselves and their families,” Ms. Brimm noted.

The REAP programme translates that vision into reality, with the focus on identifying and nurturing community businesses, including those at the earliest stages of development.

“Within that context, one of the areas that we look at is the whole aspect of entrepreneurship and identifying community businesses to help them to get to that first stage in terms of their business development,” Ms. Brimm said.

While the programme initially set out to engage 50 persons, interest exceeded expectations.

“We actually ended up having 59 participants and we decided not to turn away the additional nine because it is demonstrating to us just the level of interest,” Ms. Brimm said.

During the closing ceremony, the participants received certificates through collaboration with the HEART/NSTA Trust, signalling their readiness to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.

Beyond certification, the conference created a space for reflection, learning and connection, particularly within the context of recent challenges brought on by Hurricane Melissa.

“We also focused on resilience. Things will happen that will impact your business, but if you have certain things in place then it certainly will help to reduce the level of damage and help you to bounce back quicker,” Ms. Brimm told JIS News.

The conference also included panel discussions, which explored practical strategies for navigating uncertainty, featuring insights from representatives of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Victoria Mutual Group and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA).

But it was the focus on mental resilience, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, that stood out as a defining feature of the day.

“For some persons, their businesses were wiped out and nobody really addresses that trauma… for these persons who depend on their livelihood,” Ms. Brimm said, pointing to a workshop that tackled mindset, leadership and emotional recovery.

“There were also a networking session and tour of the entrepreneurship village, where persons were able to interact and support them in terms of the purchase of their goods,” she told JIS News.

For the PIOJ, the success of the REAP training and conference underscored the impact of targeted, community-based interventions in driving long-term development.

“We have been able to advance this particular strategic objective, which is to support community businesses,” Ms. Brimm emphasised.

As the participants return to their communities armed with new skills, certification and renewed confidence, the hope is that their ventures will not only thrive but also contribute to stronger, more self-sufficient communities across Jamaica.