On Friday, July 19, 2024, the closing ceremony of the first Studentpreneur Summer Activity Camp took place. The camp, held from July 15 to 19, 2024, operated under the motto, “Young minds, Big ideas, Bright future.” This day also marked the launch of the first entrepreneur song, “Bridging Gaps in Entrepreneurship,” written and composed by Mrs. Marilyn A. Cuffy-Morris, a native of Dominica.
Mrs. Cuffy-Morris has consistently worked towards the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Her focus on entrepreneurship spans from teenage years to adulthood, culminating in the preparation and launch of four Business Training guides on December 6, 2024:
a. “Don’t Doubt Yourself, Just Stay Focused” – covering the Preparation, Execution, and Expansion phases.
b. “I’m a Child, I’m Not Too Young, Tell Me Now” – designed for children aged 13 to 17.
The Studentpreneur Summer Activity Camp was inspired by Mrs. Cuffy-Morris’s work with secondary schools, where she distributed business training guides to students involved in family businesses, excelling in business courses, or running micro-businesses. She also provided guides to winners of the Rotary Secondary School Quiz Competition and students in the FOTA program at the Social Center. During the 2024 graduation ceremonies, she handed out guides to students at five secondary schools, including the Dominica Grammar School Valedictorian, St. Martin Secondary School’s “Entrepreneur Award” recipient, and Wesley High School’s “Budding Entrepreneur Award” recipient.
Recognizing the lack of entrepreneurship skills among youth aged 13 to 35, the camp aimed to address this gap. The camp was designed to equip participants, referred to as Studentpreneurs, with the necessary skills for business success. Experienced professionals provided insights and strategies to help the youth start, run, manage, and grow their businesses, contributing to their families and Dominica’s development.
The five-day camp included an introductory session where Studentpreneurs created simple business plans based on their ideas. They received guidance from business professionals on topics such as business development, budgeting, and effective business writing. Notable speakers included Lili Octave (Lianne Letang), Finance Focus (Ms. Luana Laurant), and Ace Academix (Jermima Mills). Officials from various institutions, including Mr. Aidan George (Sagicor Insurance), Ms. Aliane Abel (National Bank of Dominica), Mrs. Tricia Greenaway (Republic Bank), and Mr. Ronald Jno. Baptiste (National Cooperative Credit Union), discussed risk management and financial products and services.
Local entrepreneurs Mrs. Terry Henry-Lovell (Bee Natural), Mr. Robert Tonge (Tonge Group of Companies), and Mrs. Jodie Dublin-Dangleben (JDs Naturals) shared their business experiences. Participants engaged in group activities, team development exercises, and public speaking practice, making the program fun and interactive.
Plans for the second cohort of the Studentpreneur Summer Activity Camp will begin in August 2024, with the program set to run annually. Parents are encouraged to register their children for the 2025 camp, and businesses are invited to support this initiative.
Thirteen participants successfully completed the camp and received Certificates of Completion from MAANZ Limited. Each participant also received a Mentorship Certificate from MAANZ Limited, entitling them to one year of mentoring in entrepreneurship development and assistance with their business plans. Participants came from various schools, including Convent High School, Wesley High School, Dominica Grammar School, Dominica State College, Goodwill Secondary School, and St. Mary’s Academy.
Awards presented included:
a. The Youngest Studentpreneur Award – Ms. Zephaniah Florant
b. The Most Participative Studentpreneur Award – Mr. Jonathan Theophile
c. Elevator Speech Studentpreneur Award – Ms. Whitney Cuffy, for a business plan pitch on building resilient homes in response to climate change.
The highlight of the Closing Ceremony was the launch of the song “Bridging Gaps in Entrepreneurship,” aimed at encouraging youth entrepreneurship through music. The song, set to Dominica’s bouyon music, was designed to make learning about entrepreneurship fun and engaging. It incorporates tips and strategies from the three-part Business Training guides launched on December 6, 2024.
The song will soon be available in video format and on social media. The Studentpreneurs proudly raised their flags, emphasizing the song’s final verse, which promotes the development of Dominica and other Caribbean islands.
The organizers extend gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the camp, including sponsors Seaworld Guest House, Dive Dominica, and the National Bank of Dominica. We look forward to more businesses joining us in 2025 and encourage parents to register their children for the next Studentpreneur Summer Activity Camp, scheduled for July 14-18, 2025. The next launch will take place in the Portsmouth community from August 12-16, 2024, at the Portsmouth library.
Paid post by Mrs. Marilyn A. Cuffy-Morris.
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