Students told to ‘do what you love’

Are you too afraid of being poor, that you’ll never be rich? This was the question put to seventy participants in the annual Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) Business Gateway Project YOUBET summer programme during the opening ceremony on Monday, August 9, 2010.{{more}}

Featured speaker at the event, Reverend J William St. Clair, questioned the youths present on the importance of money in their lives. “The question is about money, and it’s about more than money; it’s about success, it’s about love and it is also about faith,” said St. Clair.

“Are we too afraid of failure, rejection; too afraid of being lost that we don’t dare take the risk of being successful, falling madly in love, diving head first in the life of the Spirit?” St. Clair continued.

He further encouraged the students to do what they love, not letting the pursuit of getting more money change their ambitions or goals.

Meanwhile, Minister of Housing, Informal Settlements, Physical Planning, Land and Surveys Senator Saboto Caesar advised the youths to use the qualifications on their A’level or university certificates creatively in order to create business opportunities for themselves.

Caesar said that the youth are the strength and future of the country and in order to create a stronger sub region and region, there has to be a cadre of multitalented young individuals.

“In a period like this, we need a strong nation because stronger nations build a stronger sub region. CARICOM is dependant on the young people on each island that comprises the unit. And the stronger sub region, then we can have a stronger region,” Caesar said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Telecommunications Dr Jerrol Thompson encouraged the youths to see past the limitations in their minds and realize that the possibilities and opportunities are endless. Thompson also spoke of the importance of transformation of technology and businesses.

The 2010 YOUBET programme is being held under the theme “Securing our Economy Future: Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Potential of Youth.”

The two-week programme will cover areas such as jewelry and agro business, which is one of the main components of the programme. Participants will also be given the opportunity to plan and operate a business for a day and will be a part of a business plan competition with the winner receiving a prize.

The YOUBET programme is about teaching young people between the ages of 15 and 18 the fundamentals of starting a business. (OS)