Team SVG wins three regional entrepreneurship awards

Team SVG won three regional Entrepreneurial Development Awards at the recently concluded 6th Annual Sustainable Livelihoods through Entrepreneurship Conference 2013, held in Linstead, Jamaica from December 9 to 11.{{more}}

According to a release, the conference, hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL), based in Barbados, included a Young Male and Female entrepreneurs’ exhibition from across the region. The theme of the conference was “Taking Development to the Community”, and over 40 Entrepreneurs from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Panama and The Bahamas took part in the three-day session, held in Jamaica.

According to a release, “Team SVG” in partnership with C.E.D (Centre for Enterprise Development), which was led by Ashley John, won the Most Informative Award for their Entrepreneurial Development Concept Biz Hub, a community programme designed by Constructive Solutions Inc.

Individually, Kay Dawn Fergusson of Kay Valley Investments won Best Product and Best Quality Awards respectively for locally produced flavoured coconut oils.

On the second day of the conference, participants worked in the field conducting research based dialogue with young mature males and females from the community of Linstead, Jamaica. COESL will produce a publication of all findings and the data collected will be used as a guide for the development of Sustainable Livelihoods in the region, the release said.

On the third day of the conference, Ashley John presented on the topic: “The Caribbean Business Mentors Model, A New Breed of Producers,” in which he urged regional entrepreneurs to focus on applying five principles when mentoring and being mentored.

The five principles are: (Mentors) Significant Assets; Building Relationships; Influence; Application of Knowledge & Time; Sharing to Others.

John threw out the challenge to all across the Caribbean to adopt a new mindset of “Each one (1) PUSH UP one (1)”.. a new way forward to achieve Regional Entrepreneurial Development, a much needed solution for Sustainable Livelihoods across the region.

As a result of the successful conference, “Team SVG” has been invited to participate in the upcoming Regional Trade Shows (Agro Fest) Barbados, EXPO Jamaica and upcoming conferences in Panama and The Bahamas during 2014.

“Team SVG did us proud, especially our young entrepreneurs; this is a call for others to get onboard in partnership and sponsorship of Young Entrepreneurs with Constructive Solutions Inc and our regional partner ‘Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods,” the release said.

SVG was represented by Ashley C. John, executive director of Constructive Solutions Inc, a nonprofit based in St Vincent and the Grenadines; entrepreneurs Kay Dawn Fergusson owner of Kay Valley Investments (producers of local flavoured coconut oils; young male agri-preneur Elroy Foster, representing youth in Agriculture in St Vincent and the Grenadines: and 10 other local enterprises.