Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is sponsored by Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. AWE offers women entrepreneurs access to training, mentorship, and networking to enhance their business skills and leadership capabilities.

The U.S. Embassy in Kingston, in partnership with the Youth for Development Network (YFDN), on Wednesday, July 23, launched the 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Jamaica Program—an initiative designed to equip women with the knowledge, networks, and tools to build and scale sustainable businesses across the island.

Now entering its fourth cohort, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Jamaica continues to drive transformative impact. To date, the program has empowered over 100 women from both urban and rural communities, equipping them with critical interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills, robust business plans, and seed funding.

Impressively, more than 75% of past participants have successfully scaled their businesses, generating jobs and contributing to local economic growth. This year, AWE Jamaica will support 30 dynamic women from Kingston and Hanover through a six-month blended learning experience.

This year’s launch brings together leaders from the U.S. Embassy, the Jamaican business community, and international development partners, all united by a shared vision to drive inclusive economic growth through women’s entrepreneurship. Addressing members of the fourth cohort at the official launch event, the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Ann-Marie Chiappetta said, “What you do with this opportunity matters.

It matters to your future, your families, your parishes, your country, and to enhancing the partnership between Jamaica and the United States. Your innovation and ingenuity are exactly what our global ecosystem needs. Let your entrepreneurial spirit carry you as far as your imagination can go – even the global stage.

The next stage of your journey begins today. ” Lucy Kingsley, International Director, Youth for Development Network (YFDN)said, “The 2025 launch of AWE Jamaica marks more than a program—it is a powerful signal of what’s possible when the U.S. Embassy, local partners, and the private sector align to invest in women’s entrepreneurship.

Together, we are equipping women with the tools, networks, and confidence to lead in the digital economy, build resilient businesses, and uplift their communities. This partnership affirms our shared commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive economic opportunity.

” **Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)** The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is an initiative launched by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in 2019. Designed to equip women entrepreneurs with essential skills, resources, and networks for launching and expanding successful businesses, the program receives funding support in Jamaica from the US Embassy, Kingston.

**Youth-For-Development Network (YFDN)** Founded in 2011, the Youth-For-Development Network (YFDN) stands as a leading nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized youth for employment and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment.

Through innovative programs such as Sport-for-Development (S4D), Multi-Arts, and Economic Empowerment initiatives, YFDN partners with the US Embassy, Kingston, to support the AWE initiative, cultivating a culture that inspires women entrepreneurs and celebrates their achievements.