CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – April 9, 2026 – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has advanced its longstanding commitment to uplifting women and girls across the island with the launch of its sixth annual Women’s Self-Empowerment Workshop, an event designed this year to center collective progress, community giving, and tangible professional and financial growth.
Unlike many empowerment initiatives that focus solely on individual advancement, this year’s workshop framed personal success as a force that grows when shared with others. Through structured interactive sessions, participants were invited to exchange knowledge, offer peer emotional support, and build long-lasting professional networks, all with the dual goal of strengthening local communities and accelerating individual career and personal development.
Event organizer Hon. Latoya Jones, Special Advisor to the Premier of Nevis, laid out the core mission of the 2026 workshop, emphasizing that the program was built to encourage collaborative leadership, boost participant confidence, and celebrate the often-overlooked contributions of women and girls across every sector of Nevisian society.
“Our core goals for this sixth annual gathering are simple: to nurture a culture of collaboration and generosity across our local communities, build leadership and team-building skills through hands-on activities, honor the achievements of women and girls in all fields, and help every participant leave with stronger confidence in their own potential,” Jones explained. “We want every woman and girl here to understand that when you lift others up, you elevate yourself along with them. Empowerment isn’t just about individual win – it grows exponentially when we pass it on.”
Beyond community building, the workshop also prioritized practical economic empowerment, with dedicated sessions covering core financial literacy topics including household budgeting, long-term savings strategies, and foundational investment principles. Organizers also integrated targeted support for emerging and existing women entrepreneurs, creating structured space for cross-business networking and skill sharing.
Hon. Senator Jahnel Nisbett, Nevis’ Minister of Gender Affairs, opened the event with brief remarks urging attendees to engage fully with both the giving and learning core of the workshop. Echoing the mantra that empowered women lift up entire communities, Nisbett noted that the room was filled with experienced practitioners ready to share expertise across financial literacy, business development, and personal growth.
“I want every single one of us to take as much as we possibly can from this space,” Nisbett said. “As much as we are here to give our knowledge and support, we are also here to gain new skills and insights that will help us grow. When you leave this workshop, don’t keep what you’ve learned to yourself – multiply your impact by passing it on to someone else, and keep the cycle of empowerment going.”
The workshop was facilitated by Ramie Wilkinson-Layden, a certified auditor with the NIA, who encouraged attendees to turn the insights they gained into actionable change in their own lives and communities. “Each of us is born with unique talents and skills that we can share with others,” Wilkinson-Layden said. “I urge every participant to give generously of your time, your ideas, your resources, and your support. When you do that, you will see your own gains multiply in ways you can’t yet imagine. My hope is that everyone leaves here with at least one or two concrete steps they can take to improve their financial well-being, strengthen their literacy around money, spend thoughtfully, and build smart, sustainable long-term investments.”
Since the workshop launched six years ago, it has reached roughly 100 women and girls across Nevis. This year’s iteration drew more than 30 attendees, including 14 young girls, and included formal representation from nine female-owned local businesses spanning a diverse range of sectors: nail care, hospitality, skincare, fitness, gift retail, beauty services, and graphic design, among others.
Jones highlighted the critical value of having local business owners participate directly in the workshop, noting that their on-the-ground insights gave emerging entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners unfiltered, practical guidance about daily business operations and entrepreneurship that cannot be learned from textbooks.
Looking ahead, Jones shared her hope that attendees will carry the workshop’s mission forward by paying what they learned forward through mentoring, volunteer work, and mutual encouragement, creating a ripple effect of positive change that lasts long after the event concludes. She also expressed satisfaction with the high level of engagement and active participation across all sessions, and said she is confident that attendees will apply their new skills and knowledge to build lasting personal and financial success for themselves and their communities.