Akila and Maria, one Trinidadian and the other a Venezuelan migrant. Both are women with a common goal: to train and educate themselves in order to provide their families with economic stability.

Akila Gonzalez-Parris and Maria Requena are part of a group of women and men who participated in the Flourish Empowering Resilience and Integration programme carried out by the International Organization for Migration through the Women-Owned Media & Education Network (WOMEN).

Akila is a 29-year-old Trinidadian woman and mother of a 4-year-old girl.

Before the workshop, she helped her husband in his upholstery business.

She believes the programme is an opportunity for her to open her own business.

"I always wanted to learn to sew. When I knew there was an opportunity to learn through a course, I immediately decided to sign up and participate."

She discovered sewing requires dedication and patience, but she also found confidence in being able to put her ideas into practice.

"Working as a team with the migrants, we learned about the benefits of integration. We were able to learn things together. Now I feel empowered."

Akila recognises the value of being supportive of other people and treating them with respect.

"Being able to participate in a course with the migrants allowed me to learn about their difficulties. Now more than ever I can understand their cases and be even more respectful towards them."

38-year-old Maria is the mother of two children aged nine and 12. She arrived in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2021 from her native country, Venezuela.

When she decided to leave the country, she was unemployed, and looked for an alternative to give her family socio-economic stability.

Since she arrived in Trinidad and Tobago, she has only been able to work in agriculture. She saw the Flourish workshop as an opportunity to learn another skill.

"I never used a sewing machine. Now I have the training and practice to be able to sew."

She dreams of having her own equipment and opening her own sewing business.

"The programme has several benefits. It promotes integration between locals and migrants and at the same time imparts knowledge and motivation for us to start our own businesses."

Maria believes these types of workshops can help to build true community integration between migrants and locals.

"Many locals see us as people who took their jobs and now the locals who participate in the courses know our stories and even help us move forward, breaking the ice a little."

Lucia Cabrera-Jones, director and founder of WOMEN explained Flourish takes a holistic approach to addressing the challenges faced by migrants and locals in the Chaguanas area of central Trinidad.

“By providing comprehensive entrepreneurship education, the initiative aims to equip people with the skills and knowledge necessary for employment and self-employment opportunities. Financial literacy training will empower participants to effectively navigate financial systems, fostering economic independence.”

Cabrera-Jones believes participating in social inclusion activities, such as pop-up markets and cultural events, will create spaces for interaction, breaking down barriers and promoting a sense of community.

A total of 15 women were selected for the sewing classes, six local women and nine from the migrant community.

Participants in the sewing class have successfully completed the pattern, cutting and sewing of a reversible tote bag and a matching reversible bucket hat.