Reigning Miss World Guyana, Andrea King has briefed Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh on her Beauty With a Purpose Initiative, Project FLO (Financial Literacy Orientation) ahead of the Miss World Finals in India.
Dr. Singh congratulated Andrea on the project and agreed to explore collaboration on components of the initiative.
This support underscores the national importance of Andrea’s mission to promote financial literacy and economic empowerment, just as she embarks on her journey to the Miss World competition in New Delhi.
“There is need for greater understanding of the financial system in Guyana and as such, initiatives like Project FLO can assist in bridging this gap, aligning with government’s own efforts…. to acquaint Guyanese with financial services and foster a more financially literate populace,” the Finance Minister indicated.
Dr. Singh recalled his reference to the need for enhanced financial literacy at both individual and macroeconomic levels, as well as consumer empowerment and protection in both his 2023 and 2024 national budget speeches.
“An effective financial sector is a vital underpinning for our resilient transformation. This will not only allow the sector to efficiently allocate savings and funds but to also ensure returns on investments consistently increase, while catalysing growth in the real economy…Guyana embarked on developing a National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which aims to guarantee easy and equitable access to advantageous, safe, and affordable financial products and services. Together with improving financial transactions, focus will also be on facilitating financial literacy as well as consumer empowerment and protection,” the finance minister had said during his 2023 Budget presentation.
Project FLO’s initiatives are designed to disrupt generational poverty and reduce economic abuse. “We aim to equip citizens with the financial knowledge to thrive, especially as the Guyanese economy expands,” said Andrea King. “Our vision is to build a financially literate society, where every individual is empowered to secure their economic well-being.”
Andrea departs this week for India where she will engage in a series of competitions ahead of the finals on March 9.
About Project FLO
Project FLO is a pioneering initiative dedicated to advancing financial literacy in Guyana. Founded by Andrea King, it is set to roll out a series of workshops, school tours, and campaigns to bridge the financial literacy gap. The programme caters to the needs of diverse groups, including youth, women, and low to moderate income earners, ensuring that financial empowerment is accessible to all. Already, Andrea and her team staged multiple engagements and have interacted with more than 1000 students across Guyana.
Looking Ahead
Project FLO is gearing up for a series of strategic initiatives including the CORE Programme, the observance of Financial Literacy Month in April 2024, and the pioneering Guyana Financial Education Summit (GUYFES).
For more information about Project FLO and upcoming initiatives, visit https://projectflo.gy/about/.
