2014 Annual Caribbean Sustainable Livelihoods Through Entrepreneurship Conference

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IMG_1052The Caribbean Center of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (CoESL) and regional partner the GARD Center, recently concluded the 2014 Annual Caribbean Sustainable Livelihoods Through Entrepreneurship Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, from 27 – 29 October.  The theme for this 7th annual conference was “Getting Regionalism Right – A Strategy for Sustainable Development.”

IMG_1711The Opening Ceremony and the Conference were held at the GARD Center, Mercers Creek.  The keynote speaker was the Hon. Samantha Marshall, Minister of Social Transformation & Human Resource Development.  After the Ceremony, the Minister officially launched Caribbean Entrepreneurship Week (CEW) and declared the Trade Show open.

IMG_1111Over 40 persons from eight countries registered for this intensive three day conference which covered subject matter to include presentation on ‘Creating the Region’s Entrepreneurial People; Strengthening the Eco-System’ by Mr. Ashley John.

A Think Tank / Knowledge Sharing Session was held whereby four groups were formed and participants were divided amongst the area of their interest.  Topics discussed were: 1) Business Mentoring and Coaching for Entrepreneurs 2) Agriculture, Climate Change and Green Techniques 3) Volunteerism, Internships, Apprenticeship and Shadowing Programmes and 4) Entrepreneurship.  Each group was chaired by an expert in the respect fields.

The gathering was addressed by a local entrepreneur, Mr. Yves Ephraim, CEO, Pegasus Technologies Inc. who spoke about ethics in business.

Discussions included,  ‘Accelerating Regionalism Through Entrepreneurship.  What More Needs to Be done?  The Male panel was moderated by Mr. Ashley John, while the Female panel was moderated by Ms. Akosua Edwards.

A regional panel on ‘The Current Status of Efforts to Develop Regional Entrepreneurs. Helping People to Create Livelihoods for themselves.’ Panelist included: Robertine Chaderton, Caribbean Consulting Group, St. Kitts & Nevis; Stephane Burke, CIBC/First Caribbean International Bank; Keisha Sandy, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and Pamella Thomas, Team Fresh / Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN). This panel was chaired by Marcia Brandon, CoESL.

CANARI Launched its How to Guides, while the CoESL launched its 2013 Conference Publication & 2013 Research Publication.  In addition, a personalized  Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Presentation was made by Mr. Jonathan Ortman, President, via video and the Launch of GEW Caribbean was announced by a drum roll and celebratory dance.  All participants were encouraged to message at least five (5) persons to announce this launch.

Field Research sites were organised for day 3, with participants divided into three groups.  Much discussion took place during the presentation of the Group Research Presentations.

IMG_1019The conclusion overview of the three (3) day conference was given by Roberta Williams, GARD Center.

IMG_1727IMG_1714An Award ceremony for the outstanding Trade Show exhibits and those with outstanding Entrepreneurial skills were rewarded on Wednesday afternoon.  Awards were given for the Best Product; Most Informative Exhibit; Most Innovative; Most Entrepreneurial – Male and Female; as well as for Environmental Awareness; Best Quality; Best Agripreneur – Male and Female; Most Committed and Best Potential.

The CoESL and the GARD Center sincerely wish to thank all of the sponsors, volunteers and participants of this event, who truly made it a resounding success.

Caribbean Entrepreneurship Week 2014

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Caribbean Entrepreneurship Week (CEW) will be celebrated from Monday, 27 October 2014 and will be launched in Antigua and Barbuda.
This is a week in which the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (CoESL) and partners encourage and lead the Caribbean in highlighting Caribbean Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship.  It is a week of celebrating Caribbean entrepreneurs and turning the spotlight on the value of entrepreneurs and the impact of entrepreneurship in the Caribbean.

GARD Center Represented at GEC in Moscow – March 2014

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Last month, more than two thousand delegates met in Moscow for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC)—an inter-disciplinary gathering of startup champions from more than 140 countries. Above all else, they are interested in sharing ideas with one another on how best to help startups flourish in their countries.
Representing Antigua and Barbuda, and the GARD Center at the congress was Johan Oliver, Business Development Officer. The GARD Center is also the local representative for Global Entrepreneurship Week, and their corresponding events.
Johan Oliver et al in Moscow-March2014
(Johan Oliver; far right, with Jonathan Ortmans; President of GEW, & Award winning startup Founders for Teddy the Guardian; Josipa Majic & Ana Burica of Croatia.)
The entire week of the Congress offered an impressive range of interesting activities. The Opening Ceremony commenced with a global Research+Policy Summit, and an entrepreneurs’ Peer to Peer event. Official fringe events, conducted by leading practitioners and entrepreneurial support organizations, took place on the days surrounding this Forum—providing educational and networking opportunities as well as a unique window into successful Russian models with potential for being replicated.
The Congress pulls together a broad collection of voices from across the entrepreneurial spectrum—with previous participation from celebrity entrepreneurs like Richard Branson and Marc Ecko, startup community champions like Brad Feld of TechStars and Dave McClure of 500 Startups, as well as an increasing number of government officials interested in getting smarter about how to more effectively help entrepreneur led startup communities.
However, the real driving force at the Congress was an expanding community of delegates—entrepreneurs, researchers and supporters who have partnered with their national leaders in more than 140 countries—working tirelessly to advance startups and position entrepreneurship as the cornerstone of global prosperity and stability.  It includes the teams from all 140 countries who run Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)—the annual collection of national startup campaigns that attracts 7.5 million participants to roughly 20,000 events, activities and competitions during one week each November.  In Moscow, they gathered to exchange ideas for GEW 2014 and strengthen the connections that fuel a burgeoning global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The 2014 Congress was a joint effort by Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Moscow City Government and the Kauffman Foundation.

Nature Center and Trail Launched

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The GARD Center officially opened its Nature Center and Nature Trail on Thursday, 24 April 2014, to its Board Members and Staff.
The brief Ceremony was opened in prayer by Rev. Patmore Henry, Secretary, Methodist Conference and the blessing of the site offered by Rev. Otto Wade, President, Methodist Conference and GARD Center’s Chairman of the Board.
IMG-20140428-WA000
Following, those present were taken on a tour of the Discovery Corner and then walked the shorter part of the three mile trail.  The journey of the one-mile trail was quite refreshing in the morning as we observed various plant species and a functioning water tower built during the 1800s.
At left, is a collage of some of the interesting discoveries to be made when guests visit the Nature Center and Trail.

Mentors and Tutors Trained in Gender Sensitization

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GARD Center recruits and trains eleven Mentors and Tutors on Gender Sensitization
In an effort to continue providing young women and men between the ages of 16- 35 with professional training and nurturing, the GARD Center recently recruited and trained eleven mentors and tutors who will be working along with these young persons.
Gender Sensitization Training 4-14The training was conducted at the Directorate of Youth Affairs by the Director, Ms. Cleon Athill, see photo at right.  The topics covered in the training prepared the mentors and tutors for the challenges and situations they would most likely be faced with when working along with these youths, such as, differentiating between gender and sex, and gender biases.  It is expected that the mentors would be assigned to these youth and potential entrepreneurs for a period of 3 years, during which time they would be evaluated on a quarterly basis.
The GARD Center continues to attract young persons aspiring to become entrepreneurs to contact the Business Development Unit. We can be contacted at 463-4121 or 734-0084.

USAID Team Visits GARD Center

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The Director for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau, Mr. Jene Thomas visited Antigua and the GARD Center on Thursday, 10 April, to get an understanding of the local situation and to see some of the programs that USAID supports (or supported).  Although the Caribbean Youth Empowerment Project (CYEP) has ended the team was very interested to hear about the work with vulnerable youth which was carried out by the Center   He was accompanied by the Acting Mission Director Debra Banks and the General Development Officer Walter Doetsch.
USAID personnel visit to GARD Center-10April2014
 
(2nd from left: Roberta Williams, Executive Director, GARD Center; Debra Banks, Jene Thomas, USAID team members; surrounded by GARD Center staff.)  Photo taken by Walter Doetsch, third member of the USAID team.
 
 
 
The team engaged in very fruitful discussions with the Executive Director and staff.  They were also able to observe youth in training and viewed some of the facilities that support our training programs.  Hopefully, this would allow the broader USAID team to get an understanding of the extremely important role the GARD Center plays working with vulnerable youth.  The team also heard some of the issues faced by youth.

UMC Mission Team visits GARD Center

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UMC Mission Team visit to GARD Center-March2014
Part of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Mission Team who visited the GARD Center on 25 March 2014, is seen in the picture to the right.  President of the Methodist Conference, Rev. Otto Wade and Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director, GARD Center (standing), address the group.

Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP)

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Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP)
CYEPLaunched in 2008 with support from the U.S.  Agency for International Development (USAID), the Caribbean Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) equipped vulnerable youth with the technical, vocational, and life skills needed to develop sustainable livelihoods.  This program targeted school leavers, ages 17 to 25, with particular attention given to young males, who are currently unemployed, under-employed, lack the skills to participate in an increasingly service-oriented economy, or are unable to successfully launch and sustain small business enterprises. Participants receive job training and placement services and are supported in serving as positive agents of change in their communities.
Outcomes
By the end of the project in 2013, across all of the participating Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia):

  • 2,200 young people will have gained appropriate training that responds to the needs of selected high-growth industries such as tourism, music, entertainment, and arts and culture.
  • At least 40% of youth will be placed in quality jobs or in their own business start-ups.
  • 50% of participants who have not completed secondary school at baseline will be enrolled in an education training program or will have gained additional schooling credentials at the time of follow up.
  • 90% of employers will report satisfaction with their entry-level employees.
  • Partners will have strengthened their organizational capacity.
  • A sustainable network of stakeholders from private and public sectors will be created.

Donor partners:
USAID Sans BackgroundIYF

GARD Center Graduate Receives Top Honor from Employer

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GARD Center-Goddard Catering Group Ackeem Mgr AwardMr. Ackeem Tonge successfully completed an Office Administration Course as part of the Caribbean Youth Empowerment Programme, held in collaboration with the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and sponsored by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) in 2009.  After this training, Mr. Tonge chose to continue his education in the field of plumbing and enrolled at Antigua and Barbuda Institute for Continuing Education (ABICE), 2010 – 2011.  Pictured, L – R:  Mr. Ackeem Tonge receiving Manager’s Award, from Mr. Pedro Corbin, General Manager, Goddard Catering Group.
Ackeem started working with Goddard Catering Group (Antigua) Ltd. in June 2011, on a 6 months contract.  After his contract was completed, a position became available and since the company was extremely pleased with Mr. Tonge’s performance, he was offered full time employment.  Ackeem has really demonstrated his desire to get ahead by always trying to learn something new.
His work ethic is admired by the Management of the organization.
In addition to the Manager’s Award, Mr. Tonge also received the award for perfect attendance for the period 2013.
The selection criteria for the Manager’s Award, includes:
(1) Attitude: willing to work with others, team player, willing to assist.
(2) Punctuality and attendance.
(3) Teachable: listen when being corrected, and follow the correct procedures.
(4) Sociable: takes part in extracurricular activities organised by the Company
(5) Functions: knowledgeable of their function and do it with pride.
The GARD Center sincerely congratulates Mr. Ackeem Tonge and encourages him to continue to strive for excellence.