Citi Foundation US $25,000 boost for young Barbadian entrepreneurs

De Standpipe Crew is always supportive of every effort to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in the minds of young Bajans. We therefore welcome this initiative of the Citi Foundation (who have generously provided a US $25,000 grant) and encourage our young readers to spread the word about this opportunity for our youth.

Bless!

De Standpipe Crew

http://barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=35216

CITI boost for young Barbadian entrepreneurs
Web Posted – Fri Mar 28 2008
THE Citi Foundation has granted US$25 000.00 to the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) to help young Barbadian nationals with starting their own businesses. The grant for this programme will be used to provide start-up capital and assist with business support and operational costs for five young nationals of Barbados between the ages of 18 and 35, with starting their own business. The aim is to help young unemployed men and women in this age group, who have viable business ideas, to create their own business. This will help them to achieve economic independence, fulfil their ambitions, and contribute to their community through sustainable self-employment.

BYBT celebrates twelve years in youth entrepreneurship development this year, and is an accredited member of Youth Business International (YBI), and one of the oldest members of its 39 countries network.

This Non Governmental Organisation supports and encourages the advancement of education of young people in Barbados. This is achieved by their provision of education, instruction or training in professions, vocations, industries and/or crafts and trades and/or skills needed in employment. In fostering the concepts of self-employment and entrepreneurship among the Nation’s youth, BYBT is using this very non-traditional approach to help relieve youth unemployment and ultimately reduce youth poverty.

For more than a century, Citi has been part of the fabric of thousands of communities around the world. With this presence comes a responsibility to create a positive impact in those communities through community and small business development, microfinance, and non-profit capacity building. Working with BYBT to support five new entrepreneurs is a partnership which makes perfect Citi sense.

The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic opportunities for underserved individuals and families in the communities where they work throughout the world.

To achieve this goal, the Citi Foundation is focusing its giving on Microfinance and Microentrepreneurship which help individuals become economically self-sufficient; Small and Growing Businesses leading to economic expansion and job creation;

Education including basic education for youth and financial education; and the Environment with a focus on sustainable enterprises that generate jobs and stimulate economic growth while preserving the environment. Additional information can be found at www.citigroupfoundation.org.