CED Business Gateway to train young business people

Over 50 youths, aged 14 to 18 years, from schools and communities throughout St. Vincent will be learning about starting their own businesses commencing next Monday, August 10.{{more}}

The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) Business Gateway Project will host three two-week Youth Business and Entrepreneurship Training (YOUBET) workshops focusing on agri-business and the creative enterprises sector from August 10-21. The goal is to increase awareness among youths of potential careers and economic opportunities in agri-business and the creative sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Twenty-two teenagers are expected to benefit from the Agri-Business Summer Programme, which CED Business Gateway introduced last year. It will be held under the theme, “Sustainable Agriculture – Youth the Success Factor”. The Youth Business Skills and Craft Training will see another thirty-two (32) youth learning how to make jewellery and banana craft under the theme, “Beyond the Classroom: Exposing Youth to Entrepreneurial Training”. All three programmes would involve learning business skills in record keeping, costing and pricing, customer service and marketing since one of the main aims of the programme is to see participants plan and run successful business ventures.

Last month, fifty students from the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, St. Clair Dacon Secondary, Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia, and St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown participated in the first Youth Business Skills and Craft Training where they learnt skills in barbering, pastry making, pedicuring and manicuring and jewellery making.

The YOUBET Summer Programmes will be officially opened with a ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on August 10 at The Methodist Church Hall. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry, Shirla Francis, will deliver the keynote address.

The Opening Ceremony will also be addressed by Manager of Training and Education at CED, Jacintha James, who says the programmes come as part of the Business Gateway’s continued efforts to develop young entrepreneurs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The Centre for Enterprise Development is firmly committed to creating the spirit of entrepreneurship in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and ensuring that our next generation of entrepreneurs has the skills set they need to succeed in a changing business environment,” James states.

“We will continue to encourage young people to get involved in entrepreneurship and although we cannot provide start-up funds, we would do whatever we can to ensure that those who decide to start businesses have the necessary tools to do so successfully”.