Entrepreneurial Startups Grow to Reach the Community in Trinidad

Kathyann Beharry is a hearing person who volunteered at the Agape Center. As a result the basic jewelry training plus materials provided for start-up business, Kathy Ann has developed her own business.  In visiting her (March 2015), Lydia was most interested to discover how her business has developed and branched to allow her to become a community trainer working throughout Trinidad to help women come together to learn crafts and compete to win the yearly country competition for ''best community'. 

Probably the most important things that happen in these classes are the community spirit that develops plus the sharing of common problems that the women face. Each participant must compete 16 crafts in the 10 week session!  It is interesting to hear Kathyann describe how women emerge from low self confidence to better their individual life situation, just as she has over the years of being able to lift her family by developing her jewelry business and now teaching 'community classes'.    

Kathyann provides the ideas, mainly derived from ‘Pinterest’ on line.  So, how would this family have access to computer?  Well, a number of things had to happen.   Kathyann’s family as a result of income from her jewelry business was able to get electricity.  This made a big change in their lives as all homework had to be done before five prior to getting electric lights.  Then son Kyle, as with all students entering High School in Trinidad/Tobago, was given a Lenovo Think Pad computer by the government.  As well, a friend gave Kathyann an older IPad and the family (because of additional income) was able to get internet to their house). 

That is not all.  Water comes to their street once a week (if they are lucky) so Monday’s had to be dedicated to wash day because that was water day.  So income from jewelry sales bought water tanks one at a time for water storage.  Water still comes most Mondays so they fill all 7 black tanks hoping that the next Monday the water main will again fill to replenish their supply.  A real bathroom was put in.  Rooms were divided to give family member’s privacy.  The balcony was expended for Kathy Ann’s jewelry making.  Her dream is to have a room that she can dedicate to her jewelry and craft making.  

Children’s educations has always been priority.  Kamisha, now 23, competed the University of Trinidad and Tobago teacher training so tuition for four years, living and travel expenses plus books and supplies had to be paid for.  Clyde, Kathy Ann’s husband,  has a taxi business that pays the basics and not only Kathyann’s business but Kamisha herself takes on marketing of her mother's jewelry creations to help pay educational expenses, including helping her mother with creative displays.  Kamisha now has a contract as a teachers’ assistant to help a 7 year old boy who has never been to school before. 

Kamisha is pleased to see his rapid progress in learning to read.  Kamisha thought her salary was good until she began to realize how expensive it is to keep her fast growing son, Kaydon (7 months of age) in diapers and formula.  Kamisha and Kaydon, Kamisha’s son, share a room in the Baharry household with the crib right beside the bed.  Kathy Ann cares for Kaydon during the day.  Kamish takes over at 3:30 when she gets home from work.

Besides soccer (called football here), Kyle age 15 is interested in  music, largely developed through participation in the Open Bible Church in Siparia.  He played two pieces, a classical and a calypso for us.   He too intends to go to university.

Kathyann is so proud of having a job, being able to use her skills including the discussions that happen during the sessions that help sort out the problems the participants face.  Kathyann is paid by the hour.  Each session is three hours.  It takes some time for the pay check to come through but everyone knows how nice it is to have a pay-check to look forward to!

Now, to look at the development of Kathyann’s own business.  Kathyann Originals.  Something that has helped Kathyann with design work are the jewelry pieces that the Colchester Community Workshop has donated over time.  Kathy Ann has a special drawer in her plastic organizer where she saves designs from CCWS that she wants to study and replicate. 

I was really impressed with the quality of findings she uses; the best of wire, earring hangers, clamps for finishing and clasps.  She designs her own jigs to make designs she finds on the Internet, especially on Pincrest.   I love her way of storing all her ideas under folders on her Ipad.   I smiled when Kathy Ann told me that Ian (the jewelry maker from the Agape Deaf) tells Kathy Ann in sign language, ‘Don’t handle the findings until you wash your hands’.   The Agape Deaf still meet at the Agape Center each Sunday for church, just up the driveway from Kathyann’s.  Kathyann keeps in close touch with the deaf by cell phone and texting.  In last five years, several of the deaf have married, some have had babies (one deaf child, one hearing child in two different families both with two deaf parents).

Have a look at the slideshow to see how a little help has gone a long ways to help many people.

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/rotary-helps-in-entrepreneurial-development-in-deaf-community-in-trinidad

Meet Kathyann:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E1v6w7gkkk

How Helping Small Business Persons In Trinidad/Tobago Has Helped Families: Jacqueline

Observing the development of an individual, a family, a business over 15 years has indeed been an inspiration.  Jacqueline was first introduced to us as a nervous but enthusiastic person with product over her arm to sell.  Discovering her situation:  five children, husband who worked for THA (Tobago House of Assembly) living in very humble circumstances (no running water, no electricity, no transport, land not tenured) was humbling.  We talked about possibilities.  Bingy, Jacqueline’s husband collected seeds from the rainforest and shells from the shore.  With these, they made simple jewelry.  They also tie dyed shirts and did some hand painting of t-shirts.  One night, we went to a hotel where a pan band played.  We set up a table near the band but the music was loud and people did not venture near.  The next week we returned and set up in the parking lot near the entrance.  Jacqueline began selling that night and has stopped since! 

Watching her emerge has been amazing.  No electricity.  We helped her write the letters required to secure the land where they had lived for many years.  Once that was done, they were able to apply for electricity.  That required buying a pole.  $800 Canadian if I remember correctly.  The Rotary Club of Truro said they would pay for this.  This allowed the children to study in the evening, to not have to light the kerosene lamp, dangerous for the children to do!  Jewelry sales were increasing.  Jacqueline was careful to invest in materials while taking a percentage of her earnings to help with household expenses.  Jacqueline and Bingy were resourceful!  When Turtle Beach said they could come to the hotel to display their jewelry, they told them they would have to bring their own table.  They went to the dump, found two old ironing boards and built a folding table.  Next, they built a car from used parts!      Then a pump and tanks for water.  Her dream to have a table where everyone could sit down together has been realized.  They slowly added a kitchen, a washing machine that could think but always putting children and their education first.

One year, when visiting, we helped Jacqueline do a write up to acquaint another hotel with her product line with a request for her to come to the Grand Courland to set up a table.  Demand has grown.  She has a busy schedule: Turtle Beach Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sandy Point Beach Resort, Grand Courland, the Hilton, Castara plus she has opened a shop at ‘Sunday School’ in Bocco (a popular Sunday Evening spot where they have a pan band, barbeque and goat races at Easter!) 

Visiting her family was an experience.  Their home is a hive of activity.  Their little grandson, age 7, greets us and says, ‘Here to see Jacqueline?  Come this way!’  What a dynamic family.  It was Joshua’s 25^th Birthday.  The music is cranked and they have been to Scarborough to buy a cake.  Bingy has made a big pot of soup (stew) and everyone is taking a big container for lunch! 

Near the road is a shelter where their son, a mechanic, has a shop.  The yard is filled with cars under active repair.  The next son up is planning on going to Denmark next year to take Architecture.  Although his tuition will be covered, money is being saved for furthering his education.  The youngest son is finishing high school.  A room has been added on for Jamie, the younger daughter who is in her fifth year of teaching Grade 1!  Jamelia, the oldest daughter is in England studying International Finance and Trade.  She has had a number of scholarships but Jacqueline and Bingy have helped her complete her CA in Barbados.  The youngest has just completed paramedic training for ambulance work in Trinidad.  Last week he took his chauffeurs’ license needed to make application for working on the ambulance. 

The whole family reflects Jacqueline’s bright spirit, creativity and motivation.  An unusual situation has been most helpful for the family.   Jacqueline was born in England and came to Trinidad when she was three months old.  She had no problem receiving her British passport.  With encouragement from her many friends whom she has met over the years through her business, she decided to take a trip to England.  The trip was wonderful.  She says she was treated like a queen!  Bingy, meantime, did his best to cover all the resorts!  Now, the problem arose when Jacqueline came back to Trinidad/Tobago.  Where is your passport for Trinidad/Tobago immigration wanted to know.  None?  So you are a British citizen.  ‘But I have been married 27 years and have had 5 children here and have lived all my life here.’  They finally stamped her passport ‘VISITOR’!  Since, she has been working on getting a passport for Trinidad/Tobago.  Her father, whom she has never known, was Trinidadian.  That would be helpful but all lineage is traced through the mother so she now has to find her father’s mother’s records but the building that housed them burned, destroying the records.  Knowing Jacqueline, she will find a way to solve this problem but meantime the problem is serving to help her children.  Tuition for education in Britain and Denmark is free for British citizens and because Jacqueline was born in Britain, two of her children to this point have and will be benefitting from her British citizenship. 

As Jacqueline sits briefly recounting this, she shakes her head and says, ‘We came from very humble beginnings.’  What a success story!  Should any of you come to Tobago, be sure to look for Jacqueline.  She is a person whom you will never forget. 

http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/update-jacqueline

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