Barbados and Panama work together to empower women

The Embassy of Barbados in Panama City and Panama’s Ministry of Culture collaborated to host an informative and culturally enriching crochet workshop focused on empowering women with the tools, skills, and resources to make their businesses more financially sustainable. 

The workshop, attended by 24 women, was facilitated by Nikisha Toppin of Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet, a social enterprise established in Barbados.

Female artisans, crochet enthusiasts, and those interested in exploring handicraft were given the opportunity to learn about the marketing mix – product, price, promotion, and place – in relation to crochet. 

The workshop enabled cross-cultural learning to take place and participants were given hands-on experience. 

Director of Cultural Rights and Citizenship of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) in Panama, Enrique Noel, promised “this will be the beginning of a long and productive relationship between the Ministry and Embassy”.

He noted that Panama’s heritage is linked to Caribbean nations such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, and the workshop served as a reconnection of that cultural link.

First Secretary of the Embassy of Barbados Michelle Carter echoed this sentiment.

“Barbados is honoured to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture on this initiative. We believe that creative expressions like crochet can help build bridges and promote a deeper appreciation of our diverse traditions,” she said. 

Toppin expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue the legacy of her grandmother across the Caribbean and Latin America. 

“Meeting fellow creatives from Panama has truly been inspiring. Elaine’s is focused on empowering women with the practical tools for financial security. I look forward to continuously building relationships with the women as we grow and learn together,” she said.

The workshop was open to participants of all ages and skill levels. 

Providing feedback received from the participants, Christina Diaz noted that the creation of the boards of inspiration and the type of yarn used were workshop highlights. 

The presentation on determining a price for products was also a key learning point for many attendees. (PR)