Fear seen as an obstacle for women to succeed in business

FEAR is preventing many women from taking part in business activities, decision-making bodies, politics and many more.
Many women have the potential to enter politics, take up a leadership role or engage in other tasks which are occupied by men.
This was the message from Jennifer Ivarato on Thursday after welcoming three tourists to her new Guest House at Malbanga village in Banz, Jiwaka.
She said women had the potential to get into business but they depended too much on men.
Ivarato said she decided to confront fear and build the guesthouse.
She said after completing it in 2013, she named it Kama Redland Guest House.
Ivarato said after setting up the guesthouse, she also decided to set up a cultural centre where it can convince tourists to go and visit.
She said it was a first time for the locals to see three tourists from the United States and Israel visiting the guesthouse and the village.
Ivarato said Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) chief executive Jerry Agus also visited the guesthouse and gave K100,000.
“Through that support, I did many changes at my guesthouse so that it can open doors for job opportunities, cash flow and economic benefits at the community level,” she said.
“I have the vision to continue with what I’m doing here and with the support of TPA.
“The tourist that comes here will extend and promote tourism and the hospitality sector.”
She said at the first place, she feared challenges which became an obstacle for her to move on as a woman.
Ivarato said when she overcame fear and doubt, she saw the fruits of her confidence.
“In the first place, I thought that it was a men’s job but now I see that women can become successful as well,” Ivarato said. She said she was also trying to do something that would benefit the people at the village level.
Ivarato said many people forget that they had the potential to do something but fear became an obstacle.
“Women, if you see that you are capable of doing something then go ahead and exercise the talents you have,” she said.
The Kama Redland Guest House was built using bush materials.
The guesthouse currently has eight rooms, a conference centre and a cultural centre.