MORE than 500 students across Guyana have benefitted from the Small Business Bureau’s (SBB) Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, which is helping to transform young people from job seekers into job creators.
The programme targets secondary school students and aims to foster an entrepreneurial mindset by exposing them to business development and management at an early age.
SBB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim, disclosed this during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Thursday.
Ibrahim explained that the initiative begins with training teachers, who then guide students through developing business ideas and preparing business plans.
“We visit schools and train teachers in business plan preparation and the fundamentals of operating a small business,” Ibrahim said.
Students are encouraged to develop viable business concepts, which are submitted through their schools and assessed by the SBB in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Successful participants receive monetary awards to support the development of their ideas.
According to the CEO, the programme has produced positive results over the years, with several student-led businesses continuing to grow beyond the classroom.
The SBB has also worked to ensure students in hinterland and rural communities have access to the same opportunities as those on the coast.
Over the past four years, the programme has been implemented in communities including Moruca and Santa Rosa in Region One, Sand Creek and Aishalton in Region Nine, and Orealla -Siparuta and Charity.
“We have spent the past four years taking this programme to schools across the hinterland regions and other communities throughout Guyana. Our goal is to ensure that young people, regardless of where they live, can access entrepreneurial opportunities,” Ibrahim stated.
In addition to the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, the bureau provides ongoing support through training in small business management, financial management and record-keeping, marketing and business plan preparation.
Students pursuing studies at tertiary institutions can also benefit from the SBB’s tertiary education grant programme.
Under the initiative, students who complete the Small Business Operations Certification and submit viable business plans can access grants of up to $400,000 to establish their businesses.
Additionally, the SBB will host a summer training programme for students who have recently completed their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) studies.
The week-long programme will provide participants with practical knowledge in entrepreneurship, taxation, National Insurance Scheme requirements and other key aspects of business operations.
He also noted that the programme remains accessible to all students, including those from vulnerable backgrounds and the disability community. Women account for nearly 70 per cent of participants.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Programme forms part of the government’s broader efforts to equip young people with the skills and resources needed to establish sustainable businesses and contribute to Guyana’s economic development. [DPI]
