YBSL arm for needy youth

Tamara Nissanka

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDDCC) launched the “Youth Business Sri Lanka” (YBSL) programme, yesterday.

The non-profit programme is a platform for underprivileged young entrepreneurs to commence and develop businesses. Over 250 youth from Sri Lanka have already profited from the program. Accredited by Youth Business International (YBI), the programme is currently in effect in over 40 countries. The Hambantota Youth Business Trust was amongst the first to be implemented.

Eminent business personalities with experience and influence in the corporate world serve as mentors for the programme, with whom entrepreneurs are coupled up, in order to receive the business know-how. Micro-loans are also administered to entrepreneurs in commencing businesses.

The CCC has been actively involved in the programme in assisting over 1000 micro level entrepreneurs. War victims and tsunami victims have also been provided with employment opportunities by this national initiative.

Executive Director, YBI, Andrew Devenport, said yesterday at an inaugural meeting to introduce the Board of Trustees of YBSL “The program has created a million job opportunities in the world.”

Direcor General, Hambantota Chamber of Commerce Azmi Thassim said “Youth from broken families, ex-convicts, rehabilitated youth etc are groups that are entitled to receive YBSL support.

This national initiative uses Hambantota as a model, before spreading the program to all parts of the island.” Initially this programme will be implemented in Vuvunia, Trincomalee, Badulla and Monaragala.

Youth Business International is a programme of The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, a volunteer organisation that helps disadvanteged youths realise their ambitions to become entrepreneurs.

The implementation will greatly serve the economic development of Sri Lanka.