TWO Guyanese have been chosen to be among 250 participants of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) 2016 projects.They were chosen after a review of 4,000 applicants from entrepreneurs in 36 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The rising young business and social entrepreneurs are Dason Anthony and Abbigale Loncke. Anthony is the owner of Guyana’s first online clothing store, FIVE92Dresses, while Loncke is a health care consultant who helps run a business providing home-based care for the elderly and others.

In 2014, President Obama launched the initiative to build linkages between among leaders across the hemisphere.
“Feelings of happiness and joy emanated throughout the room, as I hugged my wife in tears. I’ll now be able to showcase 592Dresses to other countries,” Anthony said of his initial reaction to the news that he had been chosen.
“It means that I will be able to seek business coaching, but must importantly, join a larger group of young entrepreneurs across the globe and expand my network,” he added.
YLAI will help to address the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering entrepreneurs and civil society leaders with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere.
YLAI hopes to generate $1 billion for emerging businesses and social entrepreneurs by the end of 2017 by helping fellows attract new investments and in-kind resources for their businesses or organizations each year.
YLAI aims to empower Latin American and Caribbean businesses and social entrepreneurs to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere.
The YLAI Network is a vibrant community of young entrepreneurs and change makers from Latin America and the Caribbean ,who are committed to fostering economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. The YLAI Network is a signature part of the U.S. government’s efforts to increase partnerships with future leaders to help promote economic growth and strengthen civil society.