Retreat for young entrepreneurs to take place at Jungle Bay Resort

Sam Raphael and Martha Cuffy
Sam Raphael and Martha Cuffy

A week long free retreat for young and aspiring entrepreneurs is scheduled to begin on Saturday 16th November to Friday 22 November at the Jungle Bay Resort.

The 4th annual Waitukubuli Entrepreneurs Leve (WEL) Retreat focuses on teaching business skills, leadership and motivation to aspiring entrepreneurs in Dominica.

“This is designed for young entrepreneurs who wish to network, find support, build and really test their ideas and they have the opportunity to do so by filling in the application form and then being interviewed by WEL board members,” Vice President of WEL, Martha Cuffy said.

Cuffy added that about 25 people are expected to participate in the program. The schedule allows for one on one consultations with mentors and networking with other entrepreneurs.

Additionally, soft skills essential for creating a successful business such as time management, team building and communication skills are also incorporated into the retreat through group activities and networking.

The retreat is at no cost to the participants.

Owner of Jungle Bay Resort and President of WEL, Sam Raphael, noted that out of a total of 70 young people who have graduated from the program, 27 have operational businesses.

“All our graduates leave the program energized but with practical tools that help them succeed in business. We have other programs as well called reconnect programs where we do short term seminars to help them boost customer service and other modules which will help strengthen the business community of Dominica,” Raphael remarked.

He called on the more established business people to come together and assist in empowering the young and upcoming entrepreneurs.

One former graduate of WEL Retreat, D’Africa Thomas, gave accolades to the program stating that it assisted her in building up her business.

“We felt safe in the environment. We felt that we could push ourselves to the limit, there is no wrong answer, there is no wrong move. We also got the skill of networking.  It provides a lot of support,” said Thomas, who is owner of Nature’s Caress, a soap producing company.

She added that the program provides you with skills and encouraged people with business ideas to apply to the program.

The program is funded mainly through the government of Dominica through the Dominica Youth Business Trust.

Those interested in attending the retreat can pick up application forms from Credit Unions around the island or visit WEL’s Facebook page.

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7 Comments

  1. PoKeSa
    September 5, 2013

    An excellent initiative, well worth commending!

    Every successful entrepreneur had to learn how to be a great manager along the line. These are the attributes that will earn you the chance to become management material.

    If at work you’re not deemed management material, you’ll never get your shot at the big-time. You’ll never get the chance to learn or hone those skills that will enable you to someday start your own business.

    Here are the skills and attributes that executives and business leaders look for in up-and-comers. If you’ve got some of them or can fake it well enough to convince the powers that be to give you a chance, you might be management material.

    • Seeing the big picture
    • Hunger to achieve
    • Courage
    • Functional competence
    • Prioritisation and tradeoffs
    • A motivator of people
    • Decision-making
    • Adaptability
    • Initiative
    • Top-down management style

  2. cohenval
    September 5, 2013

    I know a couple young persons who attended the retreat for young entrepreneurs early this year. It was well received by these young and aspiring persons. There was a wealth of information. They came out energized. These young persons labored to produce good business plans, seeking help, until it was rightly done.
    Then it gets to the Youth Division and everything comes to halt. That is frustrating to the young persons. Youth Division is, but its lack of action, undermining a really good initiative.

    • ydobon
      September 8, 2013

      The last retreat was last year….so what retreat from earlier this year are you talking about. if you don’t have facts, don’t make such statements like you know what u r talking about.

    • Observer
      September 9, 2013

      I highly doubt that you are referring to the WEL Retreat. In that retreat, there is Mentoring support, loan guaranteeing (if you are within the criteria), constant support and connections, a network of friends and resource persons. I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT YOU ARE REFERING TO THE WEL Retreat!

  3. Rastafari
    September 5, 2013

    Very good for Dominica. Keep up the great work, Sam!

  4. Sylvester Cadette
    September 5, 2013

    This is a great initiative by the organizers geared towards building a new entrepreneurial class with skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, principles of business ethics and, I anticipate, savvy in technological advancement and innovation (at least at the user level)

    Our Youth must seize this opportunity. WHO DARES WINS !!

  5. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    Very Great Initiative geared towards building a new entrepreneurial pool of skilled individuals in business, leadership, principles of business ethics and technologically savvy and a-tuned to the client/customer base.

    Our youth should embrace such endeavors. WHO DARES WINS!!

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