THE incidence of women willingly engaging in skills-based training is reducing at a rapid rate, with some citing financial difficulties as a key factor, says Ba Women’s Forum president Dr Maria Dotton.
She said the forum did not charge the women fees.
“But they give donations, and this is voluntary depending on how much they can give,” she said.
“So, the challenge is their fare, bus fare coming here and, of course, if they are in the baking class, then they worry about how to buy their ingredients and where to get money.”
Ms Dotton said the forum would, on the odd occasion, assist students who were genuinely in need of financial help.
“Our biggest problem and frustration are that the women are not as interested as we hoped they would be.
“We cannot lure them to come and be educated.”
Ms Dotton said financially empowering women was a key aspect of the forum.
“They come one, two times, then they don’t show up again, and we want them to be here, stable, so that they can earn a living, but that is still a challenge, the biggest one.”
