Youth Innovation Camp slated for December
By Gibron Rahim
THAT eureka moment when a business idea occurs is only the first step in what can be a lengthy and difficult process for an entrepreneur. Anyone who has ever decided to start a business of their own knows how the process can be filled with hurdles. It is for this reason that preparation for the process is invaluable. Young people at a crossroads in their lives can especially benefit from this sort of guidance. It is with this reason in mind that the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), Guyana Alumni, in collaboration with the United States Embassy, has decided to host a three-day Youth Innovation Camp.

The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) was launched in 2015 by then, U.S. President Barack Obama, as an opportunity for young business and civil society leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.
A group from Guyana were chosen to be a part of the project: Shaunda Yarde, one of the Youth Innovation Camp organisers and an YLAI Alumni herself, spoke with the Pepperpot Magazine about the experience she and her fellow alumni had. “It was one of the most fulfilling business experiences, especially as small business owners,” she said. She reflected on the ambience, the sessions and the variety of speakers catering to all types of businesses.

All of these combined created a valuable learning experience for her and her fellow alumni. She explained that the programme featured panels composed of technology, food and management minds, allowing a variety of opinions from different sectors. It ensured that the knowledge they gained could be applied to their own businesses.
On their return to Guyana, the group sincerely wished to channel at least some of the information they had acquired, especially with those under the age of 30. Their timing was fortuitous – the opportunity presented itself and the U.S. Embassy loved their idea and was willing to sponsor it.

They narrowed down their target group to those aged 15-17 years old. Yarde explained that it is this group that will be thinking about the next phase of their lives. Teenagers preparing to leave secondary school may decide to seek jobs, attend university or they might even have business ideas. The YLAI Guyana Alumni realised that there was an opportunity to nurture these ideas at this critical stage. She noted that, after the camp, those business ideas can be developed through understudying in related organisations, choosing a pertinent course of study at university or even immediately moving on to entrepreneurship.

The Youth Innovation Camp will run from December 18-20 in Georgetown. An important aspect that Yarde noted is that the camp seeks to impact children from all 10 administrative regions of Guyana. Participants’ accommodation, meals and travel costs will be covered by the U.S. Embassy and YLAI Guyana. The three-day boot camp will be an entrepreneurial immersion experience targeting groups of three in the stated age group who are interested in becoming social or business entrepreneurs. The aim is to “promote and foster an entrepreneurial environment amongst youths in Guyana”.

The camp’s participants, who will be shortlisted from among the applicants to about 30, will be exposed to talks from business advisors and leaders in various sectors across Guyana during its course. They will receive training on developing their business plan to act as a guide for startup and future growth. And, in the final phase, participants will be able to pitch their business ideas for a chance to secure seed funding to launch their idea. “Some areas that we will cover include foundations of entrepreneurship, how to pitch your business or idea, e-commerce, mechanisms to deal with failure, effective communication and much more,” Yarde said.

Participants only need to satisfy three basic requirements. Applications must contain teams of three and identify the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Applicants must also, as mentioned, be between the ages of 15-17 years old and must have a viable business idea and plan that can be implemented. The winners of the funding will be chosen after careful deliberation. The judging criteria will include most innovative, level of development of the business plan and a level of maturity displayed in the responses to questions posed.

The teamwork requirement for the Youth Innovation Camp is necessary and important. Businesses, as Yarde noted, often require more than one person. She explained that YLAI Guyana is trying to show the value of working together to achieve a common goal. “Building the correct team is also a part of our camp course,” she said. “We would like to have a practical guideline for that element.” She emphasised that each part of a business team has different responsibilities and they want to highlight the importance of each at the camp.

There is true value in entrepreneurship, notwithstanding the difficulties that the path may hold. For those who choose to undertake it, entrepreneurship serves two purposes, as Yarde explained. It forces people to seek solutions to problems within their communities and it helps to develop those selfsame communities. There is also a personal gratification to owning and operating one’s own business that cannot be explained. “There is a sense of joy knowing that you can use your God-given talent to serve your community and empower others.”
The application deadline for the Youth Innovation camp is November 15. Further information can be found at the YLAI Guyana Alumni’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YoungLeadersofGuyana/