The St. Lucia Youth Business Trust (SLYBT) continues to lead the way in the emerging field of Social Entrepreneurship by providing training opportunities to young entrepreneurs and startups. In collaboration with the Barbados Youth Business Trust, Dominica Youth Business Trust and with the kind support and funding from the European Union, the Trust successfully launched the Social Enterprise Incubator in April 2021. This initiative targeted young entrepreneurs between the ages of 16-30, who are at an early stage of social enterprise development and want to move ahead, through the provision of training, mentorship, business support and financing. The goal of the programme is to develop and launch successful social ventures while also building the long-term capacity of social entrepreneurs and organizations in the Caribbean.
To date, two cohorts have been hosted with 20 persons successfully completing the training programme. From this group, 16 participants, representing 15 purpose driven businesses launched social enterprises. They are currently providing essential products and services while supporting persons, especially the youth from underprivileged backgrounds through the provision of education, training, and employment. Let us salute, these fearless young social entrepreneurs on their achievements. They are an inspiration and are playing their part in strengthening the social business movement here in St. Lucia and in the region. In addition, they are making a vital contribution to the youth economy by tackling social and environmental issues.
Reflecting on the various crises that we have all experienced over the last years, it confirms the fact that social business is needed now more than ever. So, the upcoming years have to be all about what is working, so we can reach even more people and contribute more to fighting the issues which has been plaquing us as a nation. The main goal of social business is to create a world of three zeros: Zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions. We know that social business works as a tool to get us there. We just need to put our energy, time and resources towards those goals.
The SLYBT wishes to congratulate all the beneficiaries of the programme as they join the ranks of Social Entrepreneurship and use business as a force for good, to create meaningful change with financial and societal value. The SLYBT remains committed in growing and supporting social businesses to solve the island’s most pressing problems.