ybtb newsletter july 2009

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR REVIEW July 2009 Volume 9 Issue 9

YBTB hosts 2nd AGM and awards ceremony!!

On Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Best Western Belize Bilt-more Plaza Hotel Youth Business Trust Belize, YBTB, hosted its Second Annual General Meeting. Hon. Ed-mund Castro, Minister of State in the Ministry of Works, delivered the key-note address while Marcia Brandon, the Caribbean Technical Regional Co-ordinator as well as the Executive Di-rector of the Barbados Youth Business Trust, delivered the Youth Address. The Trust’s Volunteer Board of Direc-tors and Board of Patrons, Mentors, Partners, Clergy, Diplomatic Corps and socially conscious persons living in Belize, witnessed one of the most spectacular displays of youth enterprise development at work at the Youth

Business Trust Belize celebra-tion when young entrepreneurs displayed their businesses re-cently started with the help of YBTB. Bishop Philip Wright of the Anglican Diocese led the session in prayer, while

Minister Castro delivered an inspir-ing speech to the young people of Belize. Marcia Brandon focused on enterprise development of the crea-tive side of business development and the fact that support must be a key factor in shifting this epidemic of social exclusion that our youth faces. Both Chairmen of the Trust focused on the realities of youth un-employment and the need for part-nership and development of support mechanisms such as the Youth Trust. Chairman Boyce asked the Govern-ment of Belize for its support in driv-ing the work of the Trust forward. The business session of the meeting included a presentation of the Year in Review which revealed that

YBTB has started 31 young people in business across the country. The Finan-cials were presented by Joe Habet, Treasurer of the Trust, and Castillo Sanchez and Burrell were accepted as auditors for the upcoming year. The meeting ended with an award cere-mony and finally with an awesome display of young Belizean talent, drive and dedication. Awards for presented to Entrepreneur Steven Allen of “Steven’s Fruits and Vegetables” and Dolores Cal of “Hyra’s Fast Food” for Outstanding Financial Discipline, Karryn Dawson of “Shapdabelize.com” for Most Savvy Young Entrepreneur, Libby Martinez of “University Heights Edu-care Center” for Fastest Growing Business, Rupert Brown for “Corporate Social Responsibility” and Alfonso Noble of “Shooting Stars Productions” for Outstanding Entre-preneur. Mentors Edward Osborne, Gerry O’Reilly, Valerie Woods, Jolene Avila and Isabel Goldberg won Awards for their invaluable dedication and commitment to the Trust. Certificates of appreciation were pre-sented to twenty five partners of the program, who gave generously

Confidence, Creativity, Opportunity: Driving Entrepreneurship Forward ► An IADB funded programme under the YBI Network

Entrepreneur Review

Inside this issue:

Directors’ Message 2 Training Initiatives 3

Photo Gallery 8

Program Update 11

Sponsors/Mentors 12

L-R: Patrons, Jackie Roe, Lucy Fleming, Mala Vasquez, Billy Musa, Dean Boyce, Directors Joan Burke, YFF rep, Ray Hohenkirk, Shaun Finnetty, Joe Habet and

Christopher Coye.

Cont’d page 7

Two years have flown so fast and we are at our midway mark!! I thought that I should echo the words of my Chairman Dean Boyce in his speech delivered at our 2nd AGM and Awards which brought home the reality of the importance of the trust and its need to gain sustainability. Youth are an asset unemployment is the problem. Youth are partners in development as well as po-tential leaders in the future. Kofi Annan The wealth of a country depends on its entrepre-neurs. There is only one way to make a return on

an investment, and that’s by making it. Let make an investment in our youth and enterprise development.

Belize is hemorrhaging young people. We are losing them everyday to emigration and violence. Some say we have a “lost generation.” This is true, but they are a lost generation because they never had a cause, some never had true leaders to provide an example, because of this, it is not sur-prising that our young people have not become engaged in productive work. We have failed them. We have succeeded in producing a youth move-ment comprised of those who are anti government, anti people, anti self respect, anti life, and anti establishment. It is saddening to note that not even the millennium development goals gives credibil-ity to youth unemployment which is only vaguely referred to at number 8 and point 16. The subject of youth entrepreneurship and youth enterprise development is not to remain margin-ally on our agendas, rather it is critical to be placed on our economic agenda, a part of policy formulation with business leaders, and public sector being the champions of this agenda. There is a HOPE gap that prevails – young persons out of work, with no hope of a job, no education or education that is not relevant to the labour needs, no family, no parental guidance and no hope of a future Youth and entrepreneurship are not social causes and until we accept this and place youth entrepre-neurship seriously in our agendas we are facing a losing proposition. We are no longer facing inter-esting or challenging times; we are instead facing turbulent times with a fuel, food and financial crisis threatening our very existence. SME’s are the future of our economy; opportunities for our youths will be the saviour for our country. 71 million unemployed youth exist in the world, by 2009, 20 million more will be affected. Youth unemployment is as serious as HIV and AIDS. Why is it not given more or equal attention. This

is a human right’s issue. Where are the human rights activ-ists? As an NGO charged with spurring entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for youth via enterprise develop-ment, Youth Business Trust Belize asks all of you to:. 1. Help us to raise the bar, no more one size fits all solu-tions for our challenges, let’s become locally and nation-ally inclusive where we realize that this is a social crisis which needs attention and let’s start working on it. 2. Let’s raise the voice – let’s join together as NGO’s and have more structured and coherent advocacy cam-paigns with successful youth as our champions and exam-ples. 3. Let’s raise the impact – make a real difference on the Belizean landscape for youth and entrepreneurs. 4. Let’s stop looking at our youths as burdens but as assets to invest in, not as prob-lems but something to develop. Not drug addicts, murders and teenage mothers, but as those we can nurture and develop in a system of prevention rather than cure. Lets work on developing healthy adults who are civic minded, hardworking and so-cially conscious

Let’s give this crisis the promi-nence it deserves towards real progress for the citizenry in Belize as a whole. The youth are our future workers, consum-ers and tax payers. If they re-main at this level, I do not have to tell you what our collective futures will look like. We can-not defeat poverty without growing our economy, lets provide employment for our youth through enterprise devel-opment.

At Youth Business Trust Be-lize, we are determined to suc-ceed. Please help us in our ef-forts toward sustainability!

Program Review

FROM THE PROGRAMME DIRECTOR’S DESK

Board of Directors

Mr. Shaun Finnetty Chairman

Ms. Sylvia Cattouse

Deputy Chair

Mr. Joe Habet Treasurer/Chair Credit

Committee

Ms. Karen Ysaguirre Director

Ms. Joan Burke

Director

Mr. Ray Hohenkirk Director

Mr. Denvor Fairweather

Director

Mr. Henry Anderson Director

Mr. . Christopher Coye

Director

Mrs. Diane Finnegan Director

Board of Patrons

Mr. Dean Boyce Chairman

Mr. Edward Musa Sr.

Deputy Chair

Mrs. Lucy Fleming Patron

BHC. Pat Ashworth

Patron

Mrs. Jacqueline Roe Patron

Mr. Harrison Pilgrim Executive/Patron

Mrs. Teresa Parkey

Patron

Mrs. Mala Vasquez Executive/Patron

Mr. Lynn Young

Patron

Mr. John Searle Patron

________

On Tuesday and Thursday of every week beginning June 30th. YBTB signed an agreement with the Women’s Depart-ment to train 22 women on busi-ness develop-ment and em-ployability skills over a twelve week period. The women in the

group identified that they were interested in business plan development, and communication skills. We further broke this down to one hour sessions two times a week inclusive of Market-ing, Professionalism, Customer Service, resume writing and business plan development. The women in the group live in rural Belize and either have a business or plan to seek employ-ment or open a business in the future. Trainers were Dionne Miranda and John Zevnick of the trust. “The students provided professional marketing plan presentations at the end of the class which were as impressive as those I have received as a lecturer in Bachelors programs. I am extremely proud of the women who showed dedication in completing their course work.” Said Dionne Miranda.

Training Review Training at the Trust!

YBTB UPCOMING TRAINING SESSIONS

Seminar for

Young Entrepreneurs

Facilitators:

Dionne Miranda and John Zevnick

Youth Business Trust Belize

TBA

9:00 am– 4:00pm Programme Office

COST:

YBTB Business Club Members FREE

Includes certificate, coffee Break and

lunch

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Entrepreneurs, in the YBTB pro-

gramme.

For More information on training opportuni-

ties, call us at 227-1356

Over the past three months, the BTIA has delivered professionalism courses to their members in Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Caye Caulker and San Pedro. The organization opened up its sessions to potential entrepreneurs, students and employees of surrounding areas who were interested in the YBTB program at no cost to the trust or the participants. These opportunities gave the trust exposure in the respective areas for potential partners, mentors and entrepreneurs while providing training which is a part of the Trust’s mandate. We thank BTIA for this partnership in developing our youth!

BTIA Professional Training helps entrepreneurs in districts!!

Flashes….a brief look at what we’ve been up to! April 24th dubbed lucky day at trust!!

A series of great events were the course of the day for April 24th. We now dub this YBTB lucky day!! The program appeared on Channel 5’s Open Your Eye at 7:30 am which then led to a series of serendipitous events read on…. Youth Business Trust Belize was pleased to be host Mr. David Clarke LVO (Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order), the Chairman of both the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) as well as the Jamaica Youth Business Trust (JYBT), who was on a short visit to Belize.

On Friday, April 24, 2009, Mr. Clarke appeared on Channel 5’s Morning Show, Open Your Eyes, along with the Chairman of Youth Business Trust Belize (YBTB), Mr. Shaun Finnetty. Mr. Clarke also met with the Board of Directors and the Board of Patrons of YBTB at a breakfast meeting at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina at 7:30 on that same morning. At this meeting Mr. Clarke was updated on the accomplishments and success of the YBTB and discussing is-sues affecting the Caribbean Group of Youth Business Trusts and sharing best practices as he has been in-volved with BYBT from its inception in 1997 and became the Chairman of JYBT in 2006. He then met with Men-tors and Entrepreneurs at a Mentor Motivational Mixer following his meeting with the Boards. Thanks for the visit Mr. Clarke!

First Caribbean Hands over Check on Open your eye!

First Caribbean International Bank has committed 1% of its profits to programs throughout the Caribbean. In October 2007 they made a commitment of $340,000 USD to assist the Caribbean Group of youth Business Trusts in developing the region’s youth. Belize re-ceived a $20,000 Cheque in 2008 and was surprised by Country Manager Glen Smith when he showed up with his second tranche of disbursement on April 24th when the Programs Chairman for Belize and Barbados were chatting with Marleni and William. Thank you Mr. Smith, First Caribbean International and Board Chairman Shaun Finnitty seen in photo inset .

Robin McCutcheon owner of Added Touch

donates to Trust!

After Open Your Eyes, the group heads to the Radisson for a Board meeting only to receive a phone call from Robin McCutcheon from The added Touch a supplier of amenities in the tourism Industry who wanted to make a donation after hearing about the trust on the show. Please see Robin handing over the check for $1,000.00 to advance the work of the trust.

Mentor Motivation Mixer held

On April 24th the trust held its second mentor motivation and mixer session at the Radisson Fort George Hotel. At this session we discussed ways to motivate mentor in becoming more active and participating at the level that the young person need. Many useful suggestions came out which are being implemented.

Entrepreneurship PERSPECTIVE

True Success Stories

YBTB is disappointed to announce that since the March 09 Newsletter, no new entrepreneurs have joined the trust. As a result we have made a call for serious entrepreneurs and currently have two loans being processed. They will be introduced in the next edition of the Newslet-ter.

This Business Started with Assistance and Funding

From Youth Business Trust Belize

Confidence, Creativity, Opportunity. Driving Entrepreneurship Forward www.youthbusiness.bz [email protected] Shaun Finnetty—Chairman

Have you ever heard the old adage “birds of a feather flock together”, well it is true in our case. Entrepreneur Alfonso Noble and Alex Brown successfully completed repaying their first loans at Youth Business Trust Belize the same time their shared mentor Dean Molina was called to the Bar! Congratulations to all of them!

Alfonso Noble Shooting Stars Production 663-2097

Entrepreneur and Mentor Success!

This newsletter composed and compiled by the staff of YBTB

For additional info, please contact us at 227-1356 or [email protected]

Dean Molina Telemedia Manager

Alex Brown, Creative Arts Bamboo craft.

Page 5

Flashes….a brief look at what we’ve been up to! Entrepreneur headed to Trinidad!

On Wednesday July 15th, Entrepreneur Libby Martinez along with Project Director Dionne Miranda and Chairman of the Board of Patron Dean Boyce head to Trinidad to a regional forum on youth enterprise development. Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Belize Trinidad, Do-minica, Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti among others will get together to discuss the way forward for youth in their countries. The group will share best practices and entre-preneurs will share their ideas and success with each other. Youth Business Interna-tional will also join the grouping to discuss the way forward as a network.

.

New Program postcard and pledge package Launched!!

The program has launched a new program postcard which serves as an entrepreneur directory should any one want to support the young people in the program. The reverse side bears program info. The pledge package is delivered to those interested in committing over a 1-3 period to the work of the trust. It includes a Belize situational video as well as pledge sheets and a letter. The postcards were printed courtesy of Belize Tele-media Ltd’s Marketing department. Thanks Telemedia and the pledges are pursued by our voluntary Board of Patrons headed by Chairman Dean Boyce.

Rotary Belize has been a staunch supporter of Youth Business Trust Belize from it inception in provi-sion of mentors for the program with many members participating on the Board and Board of Patrons. New President elect Maria Price has attended both Annual General meetings to date. Please see inset photo with Rotarians being updated on program efforts.

Rotarians receive program update June 2009!

throughout the year. Outstanding donors, First Caribbean International Bank and Belize Telemedia Ltd., were presented with plaques as well in appreciation of their contribution and continued support. YBTB was pleas-antly surprised as Belize Telemedia used this opportunity to handover a check for $27,500 as a part of its three year commitment to the program. Nortel, a recognized leader in the communication industry and one of Teleme-dia’s biggest suppliers, also made a presentation of $50,000 to YBTB. Chris Braddy of Nortel made the presentation to YBTB’s Chairman, Shaun Finnetty, who, in accepting the check, said that the contribution would go a long way in continuing the important work of the Trust. For those of you who are new to the program, Youth Business Trust Belize is a program offering young persons be-tween the ages of 18 and 35 assistance in starting their own businesses. The program offers loan financing, training and the ever important component, mentoring, which guides the young persons’ business on the road to success. Those who pledged their commitment to the program, which is being funded by the Inter American Development Bank, have made a serious investment in the future of Belize. The program, which follows the Youth Business International model started by Prince Charles of Wales, boasts of a vast network of about thirty seven countries worldwide.

Thank you for your commitment to Youth Business Trust Belize!

Stories

Renovated website!! The YBTB website is being updated to include localized photos,. Additional information being requested as well as easy to use content manage-ment software which will allow the staff at the trust to update ad make necessary changes to the site. This change was necessary as the site was launched before the office was programmatic. Now lessons learned will be shared as well as the relevant info required by entrepreneurs, partners and mentors will become available. All this is courtesy of E-data who graciously of-fered this upgrade to the trust a s a gift. Thank you e-data!!

Ever since winning the coveted Young CEO award from Michael Porter’s ICIC group, Ivonne Escobar has been under high scrutiny and profiled in all levels. The Trust recom-mended her to be a part of a regional Central American Program funded by PAIRCA to speak about opportunities and entrepreneurship across borders in an effort to stimulate re-gional integration. Ivonne has been involved in a “muchogusto centroamerica” CD and has been attending press conferences in the region.

Ivonne’s business “Bright Start store is located on New Road across the street from Mala’s and sells clothing and household goods. Please support a Young entrepreneur and buy from her today. She can be reached at 626-2704.

Cont’d from cover

YBTB Awards Show and AGM Photo Gallery

Entrepreneur Maureen Navarette showing her work

Entrepreneur Charmaine Heusner and her daughter at the awards ceremony.

Minister Castro receiving award from Project Officer Beverly Coleman

Entrepreneur Tiffany Budd showing off her part planning and entertainment business

Partner Ward Macgregor his certificate. Bravo Ward!!

Board of Directors and Minister Castro

Telemedia’s Dean Boyce handing cheque to Dionne Miranda

Mentor Isabel Goldberg receiving mentor award from Treasurer Joe Habet

Telemedia receiving thank you!

Board of Patrons Watching Year in Review presentation

YBTB Awards Show and AGM Photo Gallery

Entrepreneur Ivonne Escobar of Bright Start Store displaying her merchandise

Marcia Brandon Regional Coordinator IADB Project delivering Youth Address

Entrepreneur Rollin Castillo displaying Sonic Bloom product!

Harold Arzu IADB Specialist receiving a thank you award

Chris Braddy of Nortel Networks who gave surprise donation at ceremony of $50,000.

Thanks Nortel and Telemedia!

Minister Castro receiving a token of apprecia-tion from Board Chairman Shaun Finnetty.

Entrepreneur Alfonso Noble with “Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2009, Shooting Stars video production

Company!

Mentor Gerry O’reilly with Entrepreneur Reynold Michael, his aunt and mom.

E-data web designers giving YBTB a fresh web presence!

Entrepreneur Libby Martinez with Award for “Fastest Growing Business” University Heights Educare Centre is a full service

daycare facility offering meals, pick-ups, drop-offs to activities and homework assistance by trained teachers.

Partnerships

For two consecutive years Youth Business Trust Belize received a message stating, “Congratulations! One of your entrepreneurs has been selected for the 2009 Growing Up CEO Program!” Ricardo Gongora, a second year stu-dent at St. John’s College Junior College, was this year’s lucky recipient. As a winner, Ricardo was invited to a three-day Inner City 100 Summit May 19- 21, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. During the Summit, he was exposed to some of the fastest growing companies in America, and had the opportunity to develop relationships with Inner City 100 winners, gain access to world class business education and advice as well as getting to meet national business and civic leaders. A specialized track was developed for young inner city business owners like Ricardo where he had the opportunity to attend the CEO Forum at Harvard

Business School for a luncheon session with Professor Michael E. Porter and afternoon sessions with other Harvard faculty. He re-ceived his “Growing Up CEO Award,” at a luncheon with the Inner City 100 and other distinguished guests on Wednesday, May 20. He was also able to present his business at a booth which was viewed by more than 1,000 people who attended the Inner City 100 Awards Dinner. Congrat’s to Ricardo who runs Baby Wagans a video game store. Ricardo will be headed to college in the US this year.

Another Belizean entrepreneur wins ICIC Young CEO award!

Entrepreneur recruitment in Hopkins!

The Trust visited with the Lemenigi Youth Group in Hopkins to discuss options available for Youth in the area who could access the trust’s exceptional services. The trust was invited by President Kevin Cardinez.

Hopkins Bay Resort offered complimentary accom-modations to the Trust to be in Hopkins. Thank you Chef Rob and Hopkins Bay Resort. We look for-ward to helping a young person in the Hopkins area.

Rotaract Orange Walk Visit!

On July 3rd, at 7:30 pm the Trust travelled North to Orange Walk to present the work of the Trust to a group of young persons 17 to 28. The grouping are potential entrepreneurs and mentors. It was a very productive session in which the Trust offered training sessions toward the club’s development. Next stop for the trust is San Ignacio with Mayor August and a group of his entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs get ready for EXPO Belize September 12 and 13th, BCCI is giv-ing us a free booth. Get your display together and tell us if you need space.

Accomplishments

Youth Business Trust Belize is pleased to welcome to the YBTB team, Ms. Olivia Wilmot, a Master of Public Service Candidate at the University of Arkansas Clinton

School of Public Service. Ms. Wilmot joins the YBTB team as a volunteer whose main goal is to determine how YBTB can better serve existing members and effec-

tively recruit new members and mentors. She is a native of Mem-phis, Tenn., and earned a degree in Spanish with a minor in English from the University of Memphis. During college, she spent a summer teaching English as a foreign lan-guage at the University of West Bohemia in Plzen, Czech Republic. Recently, she completed a stint as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Memphis working on projects including Mar-tin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service; Make a Difference Day and Hands on Memphis with a spe-cial focus on engaging at-risk youth. During her first year at the

Clinton School Ms. Wilmot worked with the small business development program Arkansas DeltaMade, a pro-gram that promotes the products and services unique to the Arkansas Delta region. Her work in small business development is what triggered her interest in working with YBTB on her international public service pro-ject. She will be with YBTB until the end of July 2009. YBTB got to know Olivia through Peaceworks who is a partner with the Trust!

YBTB Welcomes Clinton University Intern!

Addressee

Valued Supporter of the YBTB Network

Youth Business Trust Belize

57 Cor Albert/Prince Sts Suite 3, 2nd Floor Doony’s Bldg Belize City, Belize

SPONSORS Inter American Development Bank British High Commission (DFID) Scotto Trust Youth Start Plan Cititrust International Belize Telemedia First Caribbean International Bank Belize Employer’s Association US Embassy *Ambassador Dieter Wave FM Morning Show Ward Macgregor Brodies Robin McCutcheon Nortel Networks RESOURCE SPONSORS Princes Youth Business International Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry Belize Unit Trust Deloitte and Touche Michelle Williams JP Basil Coleman Sr. JP Peace Corps Belize Tradewinds Advertising Go Tees Basil Coleman MENTORS Kathlyn Tillett Jim Scott Marcia Bouloy Valerie Woods James Nisbet Edward Osborne Dean Molina Kevin Herrera Corine Fuller Tracy Taegar Diane Williams Rondine Twist Alda Waight Sylvia Cattouse Gerry O’reilly Ray Hohenkirk Edna Arnold Damien Chamberlain Giovanni Heredia Martha Williams Victor Miranda Dr. Marcelo Coyi Sheree Fukai Maxine Goddard Aki Fukai Bridget Cullerton Isabel Goldberg Luis Cambranes Andrew Godoy Jolene Avila Linsford Rosado Hannah Cowell Bruno Kuppinger Eddie Bouloy Stephie Lupp Michael Swift Hannah Cowell Yvonne Hartshorn Sandra Mckay Ray Hohenkirk Beverly Cabral Andrew Godoy Mirna Paul Jana Gil Williams

“THE ENTREPRENEUR”

Innovative and creative with

passion drive and perseverance.

This newsletter composed and compiled by the staff of YBTB

For additional info, please contact us at 227-1356 or [email protected]

YBTB Thanks it’s Sponsors, Board Patrons, Donors and welcomes its New Partners and Mentors on board

ybtb newsletter july 2009

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