SBM Offshore Guyana has launched a financial literacy initiative aimed at helping young women develop the practical skills needed to make informed personal, professional and financial decisions.
The company hosted the first installment of the two-day workshop, titled “From the Field to the Future: Building Financial Confidence, Life Skills & Entrepreneurial Thinking,” in Georgetown on July 4. A second session is scheduled for September.
More than 50 young women participated in the program, which was organized in collaboration with the Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) and facilitated by Fiscal Frontier.
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Participants came from VMFA and the National Coordinating Coalition’s Enhancing Livelihoods Youth Literacy Program. The initiative brought together young women from different backgrounds to learn collaboratively and exchange perspectives.
The sessions covered financial literacy, digital safety, entrepreneurship and personal development. Participants examined strategies for managing money, protecting themselves online, building confidence and pursuing educational, career and business opportunities.
SBM Offshore Guyana Country General Manager Martin Cheong encouraged the participants to use the program as an opportunity to invest in their development.
“While you may come from different backgrounds and have different interests, you are all here because you have potential, talent and a bright future ahead of you,” Cheong stated.
“Financial confidence isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about making smart choices with what you do have and working toward the future you want for yourself,” he added.
The workshop forms part of SBM Offshore Guyana’s youth development efforts and focuses on preparing participants to make responsible decisions that can support their long-term independence.
Students described the sessions as engaging and relevant to their everyday lives and future goals. Parents also welcomed the focus on areas outside the traditional classroom, including financial management and cyberbullying awareness.
VMFA founder Vurlon Mills said the training complemented the personal qualities developed through participation in sport.
“We are grateful to SBM Offshore Guyana for creating opportunities like this that empower our young women beyond the football field,” Mills stated.
“At VMFA, football teaches discipline, teamwork, leadership and confidence, but when those qualities are combined with financial literacy and life skills, our players are even better equipped for the future,” he continued.
The second workshop in September will build on the financial knowledge, leadership skills and entrepreneurial thinking introduced during the inaugural session.
