The third annual Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) Camp Enterprise has ignited the spark of business ownership in over 80 young people. And according to YES manager Selma Green, the four-week camp was a success. She was speaking last week during a business presentation and award ceremony at Queen’s College, Husbands, St James. “We measure success in a number of ways,” she said, noting that the camp was oversubscribed. “We intended to take 70 campers in, and I think that we would’ve closed off registration at about 86 campers this time around,” Green noted.
The manager said the ratio of males to females participating in the camp was a reflection of the percentage coming to YES for assistance. “We saw 54 per cent females and 46 per cent males . . . and the average age of our campers was around 15, and that’s excellent because that’s really the target audience that we’re catering to . . . young men and women who are about to transition, to make their choices in [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations], in terms of their careers and their vocations,” she noted. “The campers would have learnt a lot about entrepreneurship and about business, and not only the pretty aspects of business – they’ve also learnt about the rigours and challenges,” Green said.
Participants were required to devise a business plan and establish a company. Johnathan Cumberbatch, adjudged the most outstanding male camper, said the camp gave him “a great insight into business” and changed his perception that business was easy.The most outstanding female was Kezia Henry, and IslanDyes emerged as the group with the most innovative idea. (NB)
