Young entrepreneurs were encouraged to dream big, take risks, and affix their “brand” onto the world stage at today’s opening ceremony of the Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (C-YES) at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Hastings, Barbados.

The United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Larry Palmer, delivered remarks at the Opening Ceremony and congratulated over 21 entrepreneurs from across the Eastern and Southern Caribbean present that showcased business ventures, including jewelry handcrafted by survivors of abuse and domestic violence; image consulting; computer animation; cosmetic production and food goods.

“These 21 entrepreneurs represent what you can achieve when you are willing to follow your dreams, take risks, and work hard. I encourage each and every one of you to keep up the hard work and to support the next wave of entrepreneurs that will follow in your footsteps,” Ambassador Palmer encouraged.

“Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in tackling youth unemployment and catalyzing economic recovery and development. For this reason, the United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development, is making significant investments in youth entrepreneurship and education,” he continued.

Ambassador Palmer said he is looking forward to seeing regional entrepreneurship expand to the point where some entrepreneurs can be featured on shows like Shark Tank, the popular North American Entrepreneurship reality television show.

Underscoring the United States Government’s commitment to regional youth empowerment, the Ambassador said that the USAID-funded Youth Entrepreneurship Program for the Eastern Caribbean (YEPEC) supported over 1,500 businesses; provided loans to 69 businesses, and created 175 jobs. In addition to providing business support and creating jobs, Ambassador Palmer highlighted that YEPEC also strengthened the capacity of Youth Business Trusts in Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago, while creating a new trust in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, urged the young business crowd to “dream big dreams,” and create regional synergies and partnerships that allow best practices to be exported “across the world.”

Following the opening ceremony, USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission Director, Christopher Cushing, reiterated USAID’s support to regional youth empowerment and entrepreneurship in its 2015-2019 strategy.

“Youth have an innovative and creative spirit that they bring to everything that they do. When this approach is taken toward entrepreneurship, they are not only helping themselves, they are generating income for their communities and employment for others. Entrepreneurship and small businesses are the engines of an economy, so it is gratifying to be able to support youth entrepreneurs in particular,” Mr. Cushing said.

Asia Mohammed, of Conflict Women Ltd. in Trinidad, displayed jewelry handcrafted by survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. The human rights advocate and new entrepreneur stressed that the ‘Butterfly Project’, a social enterprise launched in 2014 to financially empower survivors, was already changing lives. “I have seen women start to make jewelry and seven months later they are exiting abusive relationships because they have a source of income. That has been the reward,” she underlined.

The US$2 million three-year YEPEC program expands access to entrepreneurial support activities for young people throughout the Caribbean, while developing the capabilities of Youth Business Trusts (YBTs).