Subsequently, the Guyana Women's Leadership Institute (GWLI) was established in 1997 and the National Resource and Documentation Centre for Gender Development in 1998. These institutions are set up as avenues to provide empowerment opportunities for Guyanese women.

GWLI is managed by a Board comprising resource persons from the Women's Studies Group of the University of Guyana, the Private Sector, Cyril Potter College of Education, the Ministry of Education, the Public Service Ministry, the Trades Union Movement and women NGO's.

"We thought it was important to bring together women with skills but with no formal educational background, for training," said Chandarpal.

She added, "Thousands of women are without the formal education which will prepare them to face the realities of life."

Through these institutions, a number of women are given opportunities through training in etiquette, personal hygiene, physical appearance and public speaking. Computer training is also facilitated in an effort to bring women up to date with the technological changes in their environment. Cultural issues, literacy and numeracy are also training areas targetted for the development of women through these institutions.

In observance of International Women's Week and International Women's Day, the National Resource and Documentation Centre for Gender and Development outlined a small agenda:

They urged secondary training institutions to visit the Resource Centre for information on the various components of gender issues. Presentations on these topics were also facilitated. These sessions ran from March 10-14.

There were pictorial displays on Guyanese women achievers of the 21st century, women Ministers, women trade unionists and women at work today.

"When Guyana was preparing the post-Beijing report we had no information," members of the Cabinet were the resource persons to facilitate the completion of the report.

The Resource Centre operates as a facilitator for comprehensive data on various aspects of the promotion of women's development. Their resource materials cover issues like family life, domestic violence, children's rights, poverty and gender in development.

The centre is trying to provide similar facilities for women in hinterland and rural areas. They plan to work in collaboration with the Women's Affairs Bureau and Regional Women's Affairs Committees.

"Today it is modern, but there is still need for improvement," Chandarpal stated. Efforts are being put in place to expand the Resource Centre to other communities countrywide.

Through programmes conducted at GWLI, over 400 women annually have access to opportunities to develop their lives.

"You begin with the psyche of the person and try to develop the personality of the person to make her into someone able to function in her immediate environment," Chandarpal said.

Modules were prepared to address the 'self' and develop confidence in women. Both theory and practice is facilitated through training at the institution on issues relating to empowerment, the history of women's struggle, business and health.

International Women's Week was observed from March 2 - 8 in several countries. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security however, planned Guyana's events for the period March 10 - 14. International Women's day is a national effort to put women on equal footing with men and exemplifies the struggle of ordinary women in history. In some countries, it is designated a national holiday.

In 1945, The United Nations signed a charter to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right, making it possible for women to be involved in public opinion, training and research. Some time later, a number of conferences were hosted demanding women's participation in political and economic processes.

Both institutions are guided by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and receive subventions from the Ministry yearly.