·
To take uneducated
unemployed youths off the street to help them learn a trade.
·
To assist those who
already have a talent to meet their aspirations and goals.
·
To encourage youths who
already have a trade but are giving up because of lack of resources.
·
To give out soft loans to
those youths that need assistance based on the mind set of setting up a small
company.
·
To train educated youths
to become entrepreneurs and how to become self sustaining.
Initiative for youth Empowerment in Africa (IYEA) is a
not-for-profit organization that empowers young Africans to develop themselves
and Africa through entrepreneurship.
In 2012, we set out to influence Africa’s social and
economic destiny through its promising youth. We would offer them the tools to
do two things:
First, to partake in driving our continent’s economic
future by creating new businesses.
Second, to set these young people on a path to improve
their own and their community’s standard of living.
We set up IYEA to maximize the educational benefit for our
participants. We developed content; we sought out passionate and learned
friends to mentor the participants; we found seasoned entrepreneurs from
various industries to share their experiences of starting businesses
We challenge our participants to see needs that exist in
their community and to turn these into opportunities with creativity,
discipline, and hard work.
What really sets us apart though is the application of
theory into practice. Students are given the theory, mentorship and resources,
training to build a business plan and the opportunity to realize the dream
through a little resources individuals or corporate bodies provide to enable us
give monies for these youths to realize their dreams.
Our Projects
2012
In 2012 IYEA launched our pilot program.
2013
In 2012, we ran a hugely successful entrepreneurship
training program for 29 students. The program received overwhelming community
support through sponsorship by AIAT, and local and international expert mentors
and subject matter expert guest speakers. We garnered great attention from the
press.
The program was focused teaching business concepts and
applying theory into practice through creating business teams who were required
to develop an idea and build a business pitch.
Realizing reward for hard work is part of the
entrepreneur’s reality. At the end of the program, a judging panel from the
various teams and reward members of the winning project with a business
consultant and $1,500 seed capital to realize their business goals.
2014
In 2014, IYEA will run two programs concurrently.
1. The first program will build on the success in 2013.
With sponsorship and community support, we hope to train 120 – 150 students
2. The second program is a new initiative. In the first
half of 2013, we realized we had some students who were eager to explore entrepreneurship
in the arts. 2014 we will provide this experience for them.
Young Entrepreneurs, Africa is a non-profit organization
headquartered in Swaziland. Our team consists of creative individuals driven by
our passion for Africa and the belief that we can influence Africa’s social and
economic destiny through its promising youth.
Isaac - Founder/Executive Director
Isaac is a creative start-up fanatic! He is a lover of Africa and believes that
entrepreneurship is the key to the development of the continent. His addiction
for all things creative and entrepreneurial and a deep passion for youth
development inspired him to collaborate with people of like minds to build a
space where young people on the continent can develop their entrepreneurial
skills.
Armed with a B.sc in Accounting and Finance and various courses on Wealth
Management and Entrepreneurship, and wealth of experience from the Financial Organisations
and nonprofit organizations He has worked with, he is determined to turn IYEA
into a world class organization.
Elvis – Director of Finance
Elvis is Pastor with the Alliance Church in Swaziland. He holds a B.sc Degree
in Mechanical Engineering and also a Principal Partner at Africa Institute of
Advanced Training. Elvis brings a lot of passion along with his project
management and marketing experience to IYEA.
Nonhlanhla – Director of Marketing
Nonhlanhla’s affection for sustainable change through youth education started
with herself as being an Orphan before the age of 5. This affection has
transpired into involvement into other community programs, and of course, IYEA.
She spent close to 5 years at Swazi Bank and later decided to own her own
company, La-Maria (PTY). With her marketing expertise blended with her passion
for social change, Nonhlanhla is inspired to solve social problems through
sustainable business practices.
Our successes so far is only the beginning of a long march towards our vision –
for IYEA to inspire Africa’s youth and spark their entrepreneurial talents to
create businesses that solve Africa’s problems and drive the continent forward.
1 year
Within the next year we plan to take our first steps outside Swaziland, into Mozambique,
Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
5 years
In five years, we will launch five learning centres across Africa, from which
IYEA will run. We will also begin to tap into the strength of our growing
alumni network across the continent and begin the beginning of our
international collaboration.
10 years
Within a decade, we will realize our ambition and see successful businesses
across Africa set up by these young entrepreneurs.
Join Us/Partners
IYEA welcomes individuals and organisations that share in
our vision.
If you are committed to our mission, there are ways you can
support us!
Mentor
If you are an individual who has worked for a few years in the business world,
and looking to share your experiences with budding young entrepreneurs, this
could be the right role for you. Mentors create deep relationships with
individual students and a team to act as a coach, challenge their thinking and
support students through their training program development.
Guest Speakers
We are looking for entrepreneurs who have inspiring words, motivation and
subject matter expertise in starting your own business to guest speak at our
programs. We’ve had some great guest speakers in the past.
Facilitators
This role involves 4 weeks of instructing a class of up to 35 students through
curriculum preparation, fostering an active learning environment and teaching
business concepts. Facilitators have an instructional background with business
experience.
Coordinators
Coordinators support facilitators with their instructional responsibilities
over the course of the 4 week program.
Sponsors
IYEA’s mission is a mission that is supported by many across Swaziland, Africa
and the rest of the world. We hope it’s a mission that you align with as well.
In return for your support, we have a number of sponsorship opportunities.
Contact us to learn more.
Our Inspiration
The potential of Africa’s youth.
Definition: possibility for
achievement
As a team of creative individuals
driven by our passion for Africa and the belief that a strong private sector is
the key to realising Africa’s economic potential, we see the possibilities for
achievement in the youth.
Our inspiration starts with the
potential of the youth, their creativity, ambition and tenacity are critical
qualities in reaching success. We dream of the promise in our students and the
impact that it will have on themselves, their communities, and Africa. We look
for those who are willing to make it happen and persist in making it happen.
The educational systems of many
African countries encourage rote memorization of abstract theories and stifle
creative thinking among students, compromising their creativity, ability to
apply theory into practice and realize the rewards of independent thinking and
hard work.
By creating an environment for the
youth to nurture their creative instincts, develop business acumen, we are
inspired to find ways to fulfill their entrepreneurial potential!