Competition
Open to young graduates or business owners between the ages of 20 and 35 until 30 November 2009, the programme will select 24 participants who will undergo training during the month of December 2009. They will undergo an orientation day in January 2010, the objective of which is to introduce the applicants to each other; offer each participant introductory information; distribute the YEP program information; brief on what to expect upon arrival in the USA; as well as a motivational session. Thereafter, the participants will travel together to the USA for their 5-week entrepreneurship programme and mentorship.
YEP was launched in association with the DAD Fund (SA) and the University of Nevada and Sierra Nevada College (US).
“It was launched in an effort to promote entrepreneurship and particularly in the youth, as this has been identified as being sorely lacking in local communities, especially in all spheres of business,” said Lyndon Barends. Barends is the former president of the Variety Club of SA, former director of Standard Bank, former CEO of National Olympic Committee of South Africa and founding member of the foundation.
“Through the inception of YEP, we are confident that we will be able to make a profound difference in the lives of many young entrepreneurs, and ensure that the future of South Africa's business is solidified and crystallized through the youth.”
Commenting on the standard of young entrepreneurs in South Africa, Barends believes that a lot of work needs to be done to bring South Africa to a globally recognisable and acceptable standard.
“There is no shortage of capital however, what has emerged in applications for finance is a poor grasp of essentials that are necessary for a financier to extend a loan. This is where education can play a key role; aspirant entrepreneurs need to know certain essentials, such as how to write a business plan and how to present a budget before they succeed in obtaining backing,” added Lyndon. He believes that even though South African big business is involved in economic development there is still also a lack of information and opportunities for learning.
The DAD Fund is a non-profit organization that shapes the future of young leaders. Barends started it in 2003, in honour of Daniel Arthur Douman (DAD) who was an outstanding leader. He touched the lives of many while serving within the education system and his personal character attributes are those that the fund would like to promote in the youth of today.
Its overall aim is to promote the holistic growth of South Africa's future leaders through developing the hand, heart and mind. Through hand, it works on programs that focus on economic development, practical work programs, skills development and entrepreneurship. It assists local and international students with internship and career building opportunities within South Africa. Heart represents social and it implements programs that teach the youth to give back to the community under a mission of “lifting as we rise.” All participants must be actively involved in a community project. Under mind, it provides bursaries and scholarships to students with a high academic performance level that are in need of assistance. Each year it provides scholarships to youth to pursue their studies in a South African school, college or university. Furthermore, scholarships are also given to two students to study in the US. The program currently has one student on a full four-year undergraduate scholarship program in Reno, Sierra Nevada College.
EvoMedia has taken on the role of the branding, advertising and creative solution provider. “We are excited to be involved with a programme that seeks to develop the youth and their small businesses into the big-businesses of tomorrow through their mentorship,” said Emiley Vollmer, founder of EvoMedia and patron of YEP. EvoMedia has designed the logo of the programme and produced all the creative collateral for the YEP.
For application forms and more details on the programme, please email:
