BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THIRTEEN budding entrepreneurs have successfully completed the Third Phase of the Small Entrepreneur and Enterprise Development’s (SEED) Boot Camp which ended yesterday (Oct. 25) following three weeks of intense business training.
Boot Camp Coordinator Petra Browne gave and overview on how the training was conducted.
“The four weeks I have been witness to a number of emotions, with one emotion though always at the apex and that one was drive.”
She added that based on that criterion none of the participants are failure bound.
“I can now state that this opportunity and this moment will continue to serve a catalyst for profound change in your lives as you step into this challenging yet gratifying role.”
She congratulated the young entrepreneurs for the initiative and dedication they exhibited and charged them to maintain the attitude that brought them success on the programme.
“As a founder of your own venture, and in so doing, the role of nation builder, that same humility, that same willingness, that same grit, that unwavering dedication to your vision…I am excited and I am thrilled to be here conveying my confidence in you and my support of your vision.”
On behalf of his fellow entrepreneurs, one of the Boot Camp’s participants, Stachio Williams gave an account of the knowledge and experience they gained during the four-week programme.
“These sessions have been very intense, even for me who has been in business for quite some time. I found that it was quite a challenge but very exciting.”
He commended the SIDF and the Camp’s Coordinator for providing them with a group of individuals who shared their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics.
“I must commend the SIDF for selecting an excellent Boot Camp Coordinator. The SIDF was able to select an excellent array of facilitators to speak on various topics from I think we as participants have benefited tremendously.”
Featured speaker, OAS Representative to St. Kitts and Nevis, Starrett Greene congratulated the participants for completing the Boot Camp.
“I wish to congratulate those who successfully completed the mandatory Boot Camp. This suggest you now have the green light to start your own business. I say go forward with courage and do not waiver in pursuit of your dreams.”
He further urged them to build a culture of entrepreneurship that encourages autonomy and one that gives independence to the owner.
“The Federation should build a culture of entrepreneurship that encourages autonomy. By this I mean a measure of independence and a control of your business. As an entrepreneur, autonomy gives the right to build confidence to do things in your way.
“I exhort you to take a leap from the dependency system to the independent SUV. Say goodbye to stretching out your hands for assistance and take that first step to gaining your autonomy.”
He called for the Federation to build a culture of entrepreneurship that encourages risk taking.
“The Boot Camp facilitators have done an excellent job. The quality of presentations was well put together. The relevance and usefulness of the materials they provided, we as participants found them extremely useful to our areas of business.”
The SEED programme represents a direct investment in the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Other programs in which citizens are direct beneficiaries include the Fund for the Realisation of Economic Empowerment through Subsidised Housing (FREESH), the People Employment Program (PEP), the Housing Enhancement Loan Programme (HELP) and the Student Guarantee Fund.
The SIDF is committed to assisting the government in nation building and announced that a programme to assist recent college/university graduates would soon be launched.
The SEED project is geared towards the promotion of small business enterprises within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and is being administered in two stages.
First is the Boot Camp or Development Stage and the second has been dubbed the Incubation Stage. During the latter, participants would be required to get their businesses up and running.
