It is “really important” for people who have knowledge and skills to share them with those who do not, says small businesswoman Kebra Smith.
“We need to empower each other. If I want to know something I go to YouTube if I’m not sure. We have different opinions and different ways of doing things and you can learn a lot,” she told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY.
“These younger kids have what we didn’t access to the Internet. I would love to be able to teach, not on a permanent basis but on a regular basis, where I could teach a class every couple weeks. I would love to be able to pass on what I know and if you can make money from what I teach, you’re even better.”
Smith added: “What’s for me is for me and what’s for you is for you. I won’t stop you from getting what’s yours and I don’t expect you to try to stop what’s for me. For me, it’s about helping each other and working together. Sometimes that could make it so much better than trying to get it all for yourself.”
Smith, owner of Kebra Negast Designs and Soft Furnishings, also does T-shirt weaving at Crop Over and she said that it is impossible for her to “cut all the T-shirts going down Spring Garden on Foreday Mornin’”. Therefore, she would like to be able to teach her craft.
“If I could teach somebody in each parish or schools in each parish so people can come to be taught, I would feel so good. I’m not stressing about the money,” she added.
She also said it is never too early to learn a skill or set a career goal. She added that parents should help guide their children, take it step by step but “don’t push too much on them one time”.
“Passing on [my knowledge] to my daughter is a must.
“She likes what I do. To be able to have your mum make an outfit for you that’s fun and creative. She likes that, but at the same time, she has her own dreams and aspirations. I don’t want to push my stuff on her,” she said.
“She’s still learning what I’m doing. This is what’s feeding her and she’s at the age where she can step in and lend a hand.” (GBM)
