Chamber Plays Lead Role in Independence 20 Meets 20 Mentorship Program
With a Vision of being “the Driving Force for sustainable business and community prosperity in Saint Lucia”. The Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture once again has taken a leadership role in making a reality the 40th Anniversary of Independence Committee idea of the 20 Meets 20 Mentorship Program.
From design to execution the Chamber had led this landmark program which was launched on Tuesday 4th June at the Coco Palm Event Centre Rodney Bay. In attendance from the Chamber was the President of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, Ms. Karen Peter, Chamber 1st Vice President, Jonathan Johannes, Chamber 2nd Vice President, Jason King and Board Member Cheryl Renwick as well as Executive Director, Brian Louisy and other staff of the Chamber.
Some 20 young entrepreneurs will be mentored by 20 Business Executives recruited by the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce. A critical partner in this program is the Small Business Development Center of the Ministry of Commerce who identified and recruited the entrepreneurs from their Client data base. Additionally the SBDC conducted a three hour Small Business Training Workshop for the Entrepreneurs the morning of the Launch of the Program.
The Training Program was delivered by Officers from the SBDC and delved into the essentials of effectively running a small business and was well received by the participants. The SBDC will over the next six months monitor the progress of these businesses and coordinate and monitor the mentoring process.
The Mentors were the beneficiaries of a Mentors’ Orientation Workshop conducted by two Volunteers, Donovan Williams and Pauline Wolfe who were recently trained by the Chamber’s Youth Business Trust as part of a soon to be launched CDB funded project entitled “Strengthening the Entrepreneurship Spirit of Caribbean Youth”. The Entrepreneurs too participated in an Orientation Workshop to prepare them for the mentorship program.
It was a full day of activities for the Young Entrepreneurs starting with the “Principles of Entrepreneurship” delivered by Mrs. Roycelyn St. Hill-Howell and Mrs. Leander Calixte-Jn. Baptiste of the SBDC. This was followed by the Entrepreneurs’ erection of display booths by the Entrepreneurs. Thereafter, business professionals, Mentors, Government Officials and other Specially Invited Guests poured into the Grand Business Mixer Hall to meet and engage the young entrepreneur participating in the program.
During the seated Commencement Ceremony, remarks were delivered by the Ms. Barbara Innocent Charles, Head of the SBDC, Ms. Lenita – Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Equity, Chamber’s Executive Director, Brian Louisy, the Honorable Cathelina Fortuna Belrose, Minister of Culture and Creative Industries, the Chairperson of the Independence Committee, Hon. Jeannine Giraudy McIntyre. The Launch concluded with Business Mixer with the networking among the guests and the Entrepreneurs and the serving of refreshments
For more details on this program and similar youth entrepreneurship development opportunities available with the Saint Lucia Youth Business Trust, contact the SLYBT Officer at the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce at 1 758 452 3165.
