Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): The Ministry of Small Business & Entrepreneurship held an award ceremony for the Youth Entrepreneurial Advancement Scheme 2023 winners on August 4 at the Small Business Development Centre on Princess Street, Basseterre.
The winner at the end of the workshop, Namayombo Mgnela of Namara’s Café was granted ten thousand dollars ($10,000XCD) that will be used toward the advancement and development of her small business; Shermar Moore received three thousand dollars towards his photography business ($3,000XCD); Shanice Allen was awarded two thousand dollars ($2,000XCD) for her pre-school and Shadisha Davis was granted one thousand dollars ($1,000XCD).
Founder of Brandy-Williams Ltd, Aleski Brandy-Williams, a social work consultant, who facilitated the workshop said, “At the end of the workshops and the pitches, it was clear who applied themselves and who coasted along and I am pleased to say that 95 percent of the 13 business plans and pitches were quite impressive and my team and I are looking forward to an equally impressive or even more impressive cohort for 2024.”
Winner Ms. Mgnela said, “Every single day along with Alexi and his team, they broke every segment down in a way that was comprehensible and relatable and in a way that I could integrate it with my business, and so with that, I was able to complete a business plan after so many years.”
Although forty-four (44) applicants showed interest, only twenty-three persons attended the workshop with thirteen (13) business plans submitted and pitched for funding.