Fathuma Nisreen, a beneficiary of the Hambantota Youth Business Programme (HYBP) of Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) and owner of a bag and garment making business in Hambantota, has been named the winner of an international competition for young entrepreneurs, organized by Youth Business International (YBI). The Sri Lanka business woman was announced as the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year on the 23rd September 2010 at a prestigious awards ceremony in Mexico City, after being interviewed by a judging panel of experts on business and entrepreneurship, a communiqué from Youth Business Sri Lanka, informs.

Youth Business Sri Lanka is an accredited programme of Youth Business International (YBI), and provides financing for youth to start a viable business idea and provides advice through a voluntary mentor. Hambantota Youth business Programme is the YBSL district programme in Hambantota. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is the custodian of national programme and houses the YBSL Secretariat.

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Almost 80 young entrepreneurs from across Asia-Pacific gathered in Colombo to share their concerns and discuss opportunities available. The occasion was the 24th CACCI Conference from 5th July to 7th July. YEGAP consists of enthusiastic young entrepreneurs and among them the star of Asia-Pacific YEGAP Chairperson Miss Anna Marie Periquet, who is a known figure in the world of young entrepreneurs, highlighted the efforts of YEGAP. Two of the young entrepreneurs from Japan and Indonesia shared their experiences with the group.

YEGAP has a member base from around 24 countries and expanding. One of the initiatives of YEGAP is the Young Entrepreneurs Award. This year the 3rd award attracted a record 12 nominations from different countries.

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You may be aware that the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) found that South Africa has less than 10% of its population engaged as entrepreneurs. The GEM report suggested that entrepreneurship education at school level will provide for the most leverage to change this situation. An absence of a high level of entrepreneurial activity has the negative impact of low economic growth, weak democracy, unemployment, high dependency on government support for citizens to make a living, high crime rate and other socio-economic ills.

Provision has been made for entrepreneurship education within the “Learning Outcomes” and “Assessment Standards” of most subjects taught at secondary school level. Many secondary schools have “market days” and other initiatives to stimulate interest in entrepreneurship as a career choice amongst learners. The Entrepreneurship Education Simama Ranta 2010 Competition (which means “uplifting the South African economy” through youth entrepreneurship) with Eskom as the sponsor for this year, has been initiated to recognize and reward those schools who could serve as role models in the effective delivery of entrepreneurship education.

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