PULL Quote: -‘Being an entrepreneur is not about money but freedom to be our own boss and generating income for yourself’
– Ryan Wharton
AT 30 and a father of one, Ryan Wharton has had no other option but to take life and its responsibilities seriously. Wharton, who is a lover of research, has practically taught himself everything he knows because he grew up without the benefit of the proverbial ‘silver spoon’ in his mouth.
His formal schooling was limited to attending Stella Maris Primary School and Ruimveldt Secondary School. But Wharton had dropped out of school at the tender age of 15. Today, he has managed to make a household name for himself after initially doing small jobs here and there.
After leaving school, Wharton found himself lost and confused as to where he should turn to and had run away from his family, but later found his way back home and pursued a career in gold mining. He soon came to realise that that was not his calling and enrolled in the Sophia Training Centre. And it was there that he explored his talents and studied air conditioning and refrigeration.
Wharton took his skills into society, and would do smalls jobs to make a living. Soon after, he migrated to Venezuela for a short period but returned to Guyana after the depression in the country’s economy.
It was there he discovered the art of the street-food culture, and like the determined inquisitive young man he is, he was driven to learn more, and enrolled himself into an Online nutrition course, where he earned a diploma.
Wharton has since brought his business to the streets of Georgetown, running his own hot dog stand, ‘Macro Hot Dogs’.
On Thursday afternoon, Wharton received a boost in his business when Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman met with him at his Mandela and Go-Slow Avenue business, and presented him with a cheque for $100,000.
The Minister told the Guyana Chronicle that Wharton has captured the attention of thousands of people with his “enterprising and innovative skills”, and since the circulation of a viral video posted by Wharton on Facebook promoting his business, he has received calls from as far as the United States with offers of support to help Wharton expand his business.
“We look forward to seeing him grow from strength to strength, and no doubt he will have a franchise. And we will see ‘Macro Hotdogs’ all across the country,” Minister Trotman stated.
Wharton is just one of the thousands of youths across Guyana who has been going the entrepreneurial route.
“He stood out as a good example, and there are thousands of examples like him. Government has been reaching thousands of young people, providing opportunities for training, support through the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) and Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development(SLED) programmes. We have decided to come to the spot where his business is located to commend him and make this contribution today. He is a good example of what the young enterprising spirit represents,” Minister Trotman stated.
Meanwhile, Wharton, who was overwhelmed by the unexpected support, told the Guyana Chronicle that he will invest the money he’s received to build a franchise to create employment for young persons like himself.
“This makes me feel overwhelmed by the amount of support I have been receiving. I plan to invest it into the macro business, so that I can create a franchise; create employment for other persons,” he told this newspaper.
“I would tell them it is not easy, but it’s worth it. Being an entrepreneur is not about money, but freedom to be our own boss, and generating income for yourself and family and eventually creating employment and give back to society. While it requires a lot of discipline. It is totally worth it… be consistent as much as you can,” Ryan he urged his fellow youths.
