Growing Youth Businesses, 2021 Leadership Summit Highlights
The three phases to the LEI curriculum are:
Phase 1 – School based Clubs (SBC), year 1 implementation of the LEI curriculum
Phase 2 – Regional Summit training (In country summit), year 2 implementation of the LEI Curriculum
Phase 3 – Cross-border Summit/Advanced summit training, year 3 implementation of the LEI Curriculum
In addition to the in-person summit held at the hostel, LEI alumni in Uganda and Kenya, thirty-eight in all, participated virtually. The virtual meeting connected the three countries together and alumni were able to learn from each other’s different business ideas, share what they acquired during the week, and strategize how they will apply what they learned to improve the quality of their businesses.
-
-
- To accelerate the growth of youth businesses
- To build capacity of student entrepreneurial skills across business plans by focusing on innovation and marketing, and by using the Business Model Canvas (BMC)
- To provide hands-on mentorship
- To enhance accessing seed funding via a compelling “pitch”
- To support youths who turned business ideas into business start-ups during the pandemic
-
Summit Activity Highlights
Business Showcase: 25 youths were able to showcase the local income-generating activities (IGAs) that enable them to support themselves and their families. The business showcase included start-ups in electronics repair, such as laptops and cellphones; web designers; photographers and videographers; clothing design and tailoring; stationary supplies; animal husbandry; agriculture; and more. Their enterprises are the result of knowledge-turned-into-practice learned during phase one of the LEI curriculum.
The showcase was also observed by our partners Social Capital Foundation. They were able to listen to the stories behind the IGAs and the young entrepreneurs’ future plans.
“I am so proud of being able to see energetic youth trying out various ways of generating their own income. Their being here at this summit for the advanced training has made me believe that they can become sustainable. I wish them all the best.”
————-
Maria – Social Capital Foundation
“Starting a business is the first step and sustaining the business is the second. You must develop unions with various stakeholders and involve those who support you with financing, skills, and practical knowledge.”
————-
Paul – Facilitating Business Canvas Model
Gabriel from Obuntu Facilitating Digital Marketing
Hashim from Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) facilitating Business Registration and License
Paul Facilitating Business Model Canvas (BMC)
“Comparing your expenses and income will guide your success budgeting and saving across your lifetime.”
————-
Zelothe – Facilitating Budget and Savings
The panel consisted of four judges, two of whom were representatives of our partner, Somo Africa.
Young entrepreneurs don’t need to have a lot of money to get started; they do need some money, but just as much they need initiative and a willingness to learn.
————-
Youth Participant
Business creativity doesn’t end at conception; for a business to come alive and thrive, creative thinking must be ongoing.
————-
Youth Participant
WRITTEN BY: Jerry Blitefield