Title: Bajan Braids Location: Categories: Work & Economics
Status:
In Planning
Timeline:
Ongoing
Description:
One major problem facing today’s youth is the intense competition for placement in one of the few tertiary institutions in Barbados. As a result a significant portion of secondary school leavers will opt to enter the work force. Some may also decide to become entrepreneurs. As there is also fierce competition for the limited scholarships offered by the Barbados government and other private interests some young people may be forced to work through school. This is one of the most challenging endeavours that a young person may undertake.
Over the past few years there has been the growing demand for sustainable businesses and by extension sustainable economies. Initiatives such as “de heart uh Barbados Celebrationsâ”, an integrated nature tourism celebration, to create indigenous small business promoting culturally based products and services in a centralised area of 5 major tourist attractions have sought to provide economic gain for community persons.
“De heart uh Barbados Celebrationsâ” has also presented micro enterprise development opportunities for youth through the local service industry namely tour guiding, graphic design, craft, barbering, food & beverage, and salon establishments. While this initiative have been facilitated through the Environmental Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Housing Lands and Environment in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, there is a general unawareness and perceptions of inaccessibility of this and similar initiatives by youth in Barbados.
It is against this background that this project aims to examine the accessibility and the success as well as providing a catalyst to promote the establishment of sustainable micro enterprises for youth in local communities.
Objectives:
1. To find a working definition of sustainable micro enterprise in the Barbados context.
2. To explore how a sustainable micro enterprise can advance sustainability in a small island economy.
3. To identify the demand for micro enterprises for youths.
4. To assess the institutional support for the establishment of micro enterprises by youth in Barbados.
5. To demonstrate the potential and process for developing a sustainable micro enterprise to young people through the successful implementation of a business plan.
Needs:
1. Interviews will be conducted to obtain the feelings and opinions of young people in various communities in order to obtain a suitable means to ensure their participation in the project.
2. This will be followed by contacting various organizations promoting and involved in the creation of micro enterprises for indigenous services to gain knowledge and assistance in the execution of the project.
3. There will be a showcase of hair braiding techniques at de heart uh Barbados Celebrationsâ 2005 integrated nature tourism event in an effort to promote the project.
4. Workshops catered to business development and the enhancement of existing hair braiding and marketing skills will be conducted.
5. Sessions targeting the creation of detailed business plans and the establishment of micro enterprises followed up by the formal registration of the businesses will also be conducted.
6. There will be a final showcase of hair braiding techniques at de heart uh Barbados Celebrationsâ 2006 in an effort to show the success of the project and promote the micro enterprises created.
7. There will also be a critical assessment of the Barbados Sustainable Development Policy’s ability to support indigenous micro enterprises for youth.
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