The period November 12 to 18th was designated as Global Entrepreneurship Week. During this time the Department of Youth and Culture (DYC) host a series of activities to focus on the efforts of young people who are either interested in establishing a new business, or developing an existing one.
A press conference was held on Tuesday morning, November 12th, to elaborate on the new traits in the innovative entrepreneurship program. Chairing the conference was the Coordinator of the Anguilla Youth Business Foundation, Joleyne Robin of the DYC. She was accompanied by Foundation Members Annishka White and Timothy Hodge, representing the Anguilla Community College and Anguilla Social Security Board, respectively.
Ms. Robin, stated that this was the second year that Anguilla was observing Global Entrepreneur Week, and sought to explain the nature of the relatively new entrepreneur programme: “Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of innovators who dream big and make efforts to bring business ideas to life. Each November, Global Entrepreneurship Week reaches millions of people of all ages and backgrounds through local, national and global events, and activities that connect audiences and participating entrepreneurs to network among themselves.”
She continued: “These activities are made possible through the Anguilla Youth Business Foundation. The Foundation was formally established in 2015. It is an organization that caters to young people who have business interests, and it helps to provide employment opportunities for youth by assisting them in developing small businesses.”
Ms. Robin noted that the Foundation conducts a training programme for young entrepreneurs and also assists them with financial aid in the form of loans.
Ms. Anishka White is the Chairperson of the Recruitment and Training Committee. She commented: “The Anguilla Youth Business Foundation, in collaboration with the Anguilla Community College, conducts the Get-Set Training Programme for prospective young entrepreneurs. Every year we recruit young person between the ages of 18 and 35 for training in starting a business. We are happy to have had quite a number of young persons who are eager to be involved in the Get-Set Training Programme and who are desirous of operating their own businesses.”
Mr. Timothy Hodge was concerned with the financing offered by the Anguilla Youth Business Foundation, and was delighted that many young people desired to have their own businesses: “We in Anguilla are very entrepreneurial. We are a very creative people. It is a pleasure to see so many young people who want to have their own business. They want to be independent, and they want to make their own impact in the world of business.
“Anguilla is unique. The masses of our young people are not really interested in working as supervisors, secretaries or clerks in institutions for all of their lives, but a great percentage of our young people want to be entrepreneurs. The Anguilla Youth Business Foundation is here for the purpose of encouraging and enabling motivated young people to bring their businesses into fruition.”
He continued: “This week we are pleased to celebrate with our young entrepreneurs. By this means, we would like to expose the programme to others, as well, who may have business ideas. They may need some form of encouragement, and they may be also in need of some financial support. Financial support is also a part of this Anguilla Youth Business Foundation’s programme and the Social Security Board, which I represent on the Foundation, is happy to have a vested interest in people having their own businesses.”
Sponsors and affiliates of Global Entrepreneurship Week included: the Department of Youth and Culture; the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the National Youth Council; the National Youth Ambassador Corps; Anguilla Social Security Board; Anguilla Development Board; the Anguilla Community College; and the Government of Anguilla.
