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Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

About AWE

The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a global initiative of the Government of the United States that provides an educational opportunity for enterprising women from diverse communities.

AWE was developed to support the White House-led Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, designed to empower women worldwide to fulfill their economic potential, thereby creating conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity for all. The target: to reach 50 million women by 2025 by promoting an enabling environment that reduces barriers and facilitates women’s greater participation in the economy.

The 2022 AWE program starts in July 2022 and ends in November 2022.

AWE is designed for energetic women with entrepreneurial ideas.

In Guatemala, the 2022 edition of AWE will empower 300 women from the departments of Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Quiché, Totonicapán, Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala City, Chiquimula, and Izabal with the practical skills needed to create successful, sustainable businesses. The AWE program includes guided online courses over five months. Networking, mentorship, and supplementary engagements are fundamental pieces of AWE that allow participants to apply lessons learned from real-world experts.

Applications

The call for applications for the AWE 2022 cohort closes on July 3, 2022.

(After this date, please continue to follow this page, where information will be posted about future opportunities.)

Am I eligible?

You are if you meet the following criteria:

  • Woman between the ages of 25 and 50
  • Guatemalan citizen (the program seeks to reflect racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity)
  • Have at least six months of experience operating a small business, including in the informal sector, who either works alone, runs a family business, or has three employees or fewer, or is a partner in a formal business
  • Fluent and literate in Spanish (can read and write)
  • Have not attended university nor have other extensive formal entrepreneurship training
  • Demonstrate strong interest in succeeding as an entrepreneur
  • Possess basic computer skills (e.g., email, internet) and demonstrate ability/interest in learning new skills
  • Have consistent/regular access to a computer
  • Commit to attending classroom sessions and completing all course requirements (average of 10 hours per week)
  • Commit to sharing what you have learned with other women entrepreneurs upon conclusion of the program
  • Agree to publication of photos and social media

Reside in any of the municipalities within the departments of Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Chiquimula, Huehuetenango, Quiché, San Marcos, Totonicapán, Izabal, Sacatepéquez or Chimaltenango

How do I learn more about AWE?

For more information about AWE, please write to info@crea-empresarial.gt or visit the following pages: https://bit.ly/3O4KX4E (AWE program information, in Spanish) https://bit.ly/3xvJhvy (AWE application form, in Spanish)