EMC Empowers Women in Community-Based Tourism through Culinary Arts Training
From June 9 to 13, 2025, nine women from Mashabo, Tapakuma Lake, Lake Mainstay, Santa Mission, and St. Cuthbert’s Mission, together with four staff members from Environmental Management Consultants Inc. (EMC), were engaged and successfully completed a Culinary Arts Training Programme aimed at strengthening service delivery in Guyana’s community-based tourism sector.
The training programme was implemented by EMC in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and executed by the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE). It is part of the Guyana Conservation Initiative (GCI), which is jointly implemented by EMC and the Iwokrama International Centre, with funding from the ExxonMobil Foundation.
The programme was designed to build local capacity in hospitality by equipping participants with essential culinary skills to enhance culinary tourism offerings and support community-based hospitality services within their communities. Some of the key focuses of the training were culinary and baking techniques, menu planning and design, food safety and hygiene, customer care, food and beverage cost control, table service techniques and inventory management.
A certification ceremony held on June 13, 2025 and featured remarks from Shannon Stephenson, Project Coordinator at EMC; Candace Phillips, Senior Product Development Manager at GTA; and Dr. Sharmine Marshall, Principal of the Carnegie School of Home Economics. Each speaker commended the graduates for their commitment and encouraged them to pursue further development opportunities while applying their new skills to support community resilience and tourism growth.
This initiative marks another meaningful milestone under the GCI, further advancing EMC’s commitment to sustainable development, training and capacity building, and empowerment of local communities.
EMC, GTA, CSHE Representatives with Participants of the Training
Shannon Stephenson, Candace Phillips, and Dr. Sharmine Marshall Providing Brief Remarks During the Certification Ceremony
Participants on Day 1 of the Culinary Arts Training
Participants on Day 2 of the Culinary Arts Training
Participants on Day 3 of the Culinary Arts Training
Meals Prepared During the Practical Cooking Component of the Training
Participants on Day 4 of the Culinary Arts Training
Participants during the baking component of the Culinary Arts Training
Pastries Prepared During the Practical Baking Component of the Training
Environmental Management Consultants Inc. (EMC) is an environmental service provider and promoter of green growth. EMC works to support efforts aimed at the protection and sustainable management of Guyana’s environment.