Young people hoping to transform their business ideas into successful enterprises are set to benefit from the creation of a new Commonwealth alliance to promote youth entrepreneurship across the Caribbean and the Americas.

The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAYE) Caribbean & Canada, a coalition of 13 organisations from nine Commonwealth countries, was officially launched in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago last week.

The Alliance, which will advocate for greater support to encourage young people to go into business, will also provide practical guidance for promising youth-led start-up companies.

According to the agreement, signed on Tuesday June 30 of this year, the founding members aim to ???contribute to regional sustainable development by helping to increase the numbers of young entrepreneurs who grow businesses, create jobs, change lives and ensure future economic prosperity.???

Following the event???s launch; elected Chair Selma Green, of Barbados Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES), said: “I look forward to leading a dynamic alliance of partners who are committed to creating a new generation of entrepreneurs who will lead the charge to revolutionise our economies.” ??

Ms. Green will serve alongside elected Vice Chair Erica Wynter of the Young Entrepreneurs’ Association of Jamaica.??Trinidad and Tobago???s Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Clifton De Coteau, applauded the initiative, noting that it would help countries to share practices and promote youth entrepreneurship.

He highlighted that many young people were the sole bread winners for their households, saying: ???Our support of young entrepreneurs is not just about boosting their self-esteem and their career development, but also about ensuring they can provide a good quality of life for their families.”

Welcoming the new alliance, Katherine Ellis, Director of Youth at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said: ???Young entrepreneurs are powerful drivers of economic renewal, job creation, innovation and social change. The Commonwealth Secretariat is committed to supporting and connecting young entrepreneurs so their voices are heard by decision makers at the highest levels.”

Mr. Matt Sweeting, President of the Bahamas Organization of Young Professionals, said: ???CAYE Caribbean & Canada (CAYE- C&C) represents an unparalleled opportunity to create an enabling environment for young people to start and grow their own businesses, in an effort to combat unemployment, crime and poverty. An initiative like this can be a game-changer.”

The founding members of the CAYE-C&C are: Anguilla Get SET Entrepreneurship Programme; Organization of Young Professionals, Bahamas; Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation; Barbados Youth Business Trust; Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme, Barbados; Youth For Epic Change, Barbados; Futurpreneur Canada; Dominica Youth Business Trust; Jamaica Youth Business Trust; Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica ; St Lucia Youth Business Trust; St Vincent & Grenadines Youth Business Trust; and Youth Business Trinidad & Tobago.

The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Caribbean & Canada will facilitate trade opportunities, training and technical support for young business leaders, and increase networking and mentorship opportunities. It will also unify the voices of young people to call for enhancements to existing entrepreneurship policies. ??For more information please visit the CAYE – C&C website: www.cayecaribbean.com or follow CAYE – C&C on Twitter: @cayecnc.

jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb

Author: Commonwealth Secretariat/ BGIS

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