The search for 25 of Dominica’s aspiring entrepreneurs has begun as the Waitukubuli Entrepreneurs Lévé (WEL) gets set to host its 5th Annual Retreat.
The retreat which will be held at the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa from the 15th to 21st November 2014 and is designed to provide emerging Dominican entrepreneurs with the opportunity to network with entrepreneurial leaders and to build skills in business development and motivational leadership.
It also targets young entrepreneurs between the ages of 17-35.
President of WEL and owner of Jungle Bay Resort, Sam Raphael, told a launching ceremony held at the 365 Media, Marketing and Production (MMP) office in Roseau that the program is an intensive one and have been very successful over the years.
“It is a very intensive program and this is why we are very selective,” he said. “We have been very successful with the applicants that we have selected in the past.”
According to Raphael, several young persons have already completed the week long activity over the years and have been very successful in their own businesses.
Vice President of WEL, Martha Cuffy said the event is about lighting the fire of entrepreneurism in people.
“So they come along with their ideas, they will be exposed to different businesses, they will get to learn new skills, how to network, how to present their ideas and how to get feedback on their business plan,” she explained.
So far 100 young entrepreneurs have graduated from that program with about 30 businesses established.
One of these businesses is 365 MMP and co-founder, Elias Dupuis, said both he and his business partner are very excited to have taken part in the retreat.
“It was truly an invaluable experience,” he said.
He recommends other young entrepreneurs on island to participate in the program.
“I recommend it to a number of young people who is interested in entrepreneurship. If you go to this retreat by the end of it you will certainly be inspired to go into business for yourself,” Dupuis said. “They don’t just teach you how to run a company, they teach you how to run your company in Dominica.”
He added, “This WEL Retreat is certainly one of the ways to properly equipped yourself to face the challenges and to reap the benefits and successes that comes with owning your business.”
Application is free and must be submitted by October 3, 2014.
Interviews for those interested will be held in Roseau on the October 15 and Portsmouth on October 17.
Apart from 365 MMP, some of the past WEL graduates that are maturing into successful businesses are Big G Hot Sauce, Nature Islanders Production, Nature’s Caress, Westport Tavern and Third Wheel Beverages.
The program is a collaborative effort of WEL, Jungle Bay Dominica , Dominica Youth Business Trust and Invest Dominica, with support from additional individual and corporate sponsors, aimed at celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) in November.
I want to be part of that wonderful initiative but I past the age range of 17 to 35. What can I do?
Sponsor a participant. The cost is only $2,500.00
where do i get an application….got a lil business but would love more insight….please
You can pick up an application form from the following Credit Unions: Portsmouth, Calibishie, Roseau, Giraudel and Marigot. Submit application form by Fri 3rd October to Peace Corps Office on King George V St or one of these CUs. Online you can download the form on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WELDominica. If you are young in spirit and beyond 35 you can still apply. .
I believe that Dominica lawyers are the most aspiring entrepreneurs because they are very creative then it comes to clients billings, they have vivid imagination (aka fantasies) defending their cases, they are dreamers for law interpretation and gossipmongers for clients privacy…
This is the kind of initiatives government should be pouring money into, not a sham like the NEP, wasting resources on an election gimmick when real head way could be made in business development