Igniting a spark: Youth Entrepreneurship Conference set for Sept 12

Young entrepreneurs brimming with ideas will be exposed to the world of business on September 12 as the the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) hosts its inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Conference.

The conference was launched on Friday. It will be held on September 12 from 8:30 and to 1:00 pm, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre  and is expected to bring together approximately 100 to 150 young people from age 10 to 17.

GCCI President Kathy Smith said the initiative reflects the Chamber’s belief that preparing  Guyana’s future business leaders must begin long before they enter the workforce.

“Somewhere in a classroom in Guyana today is a 10-year-old with an idea. That idea may one day  become a business, employ people, solve a problem in a community or even become one of the  companies that helps to shape Guyana’s economy twenty years from now,” Smith said.

“But ideas need opportunity. If we want Guyana to have more entrepreneurs, innovators, creators  and business leaders tomorrow, we have to begin exposing our young people to those possibilities  today,”

In a release, the GCCI said the programme has been designed as an interactive experience rather than a traditional conference  where young people simply sit and listen to presentations. Participants will engage in workshops  covering the Orange Economy, Tourism and Hospitality, Agro-processing, AI-Augmented  Entrepreneurship, and Marketing and Public Relations.

Smith said the areas were deliberately selected to expose young people to both traditional and  emerging opportunities and to broaden their understanding of what entrepreneurship can look  like.

“The entrepreneur of tomorrow will operate in a very different environment from the  entrepreneur of yesterday. Technology is changing business, creativity is creating new industries,  and opportunities are emerging across sectors. We want our young people to begin seeing  themselves as part of that future,” she said.

The Conference seeks to build confidence, creativity, financial literacy and problem-solving skills  while exposing participants to the fundamentals of identifying opportunities, developing ideas and  creating value. These objectives form part of the original GCCI concept.  

To broaden access to the inaugural Conference, the GCCI is using a two-pronged approach to participation.  A public registration form will allow interested young people between the ages of 10 and 17 to register to attend, with parents, guardians and schools also being encouraged to share the opportunity with eligible students.  Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Education are supporting the initiative.

The partnership will help the GCCI extend the reach of the program and provide opportunities for young people from a wider cross-section of the country.

Smith stressed that the initiative is particularly relevant at a time when Guyana is undergoing significant economic transformation.

“Our young people must know that their future is not limited to finding employment. They can create employment. They can build businesses. They can innovate. They can export. They can become employers and industry leaders,” she said.

Moreover, it was noted that the programme is not intended to be a one-off activity. The GCCI’s concept envisages the  Conference becoming a recurring and recognisable flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative that can grow and evolve in the years ahead.

Students are encouraged to attend in their school uniforms, helping to create a unified and welcoming environment for participants. Eligible students can register through https://forms.gle/YUYvbM6K4DLVi5vm6, with parents and guardians encouraged to complete  the registration on their behalf.

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