Across the world, different societies and economies have craved development for their citizens and the entire nation, understanding that youth entrepreneurial training is pivotal for progress.
In this article, I’ll be sharing with you 12 youth entrepreneurial training programs around the world aimed at building the right capacity in young people to foster societal growth.
These programs include;
1. ITS TYME (Immersion Training Strategy; Targeting Young Marginalized Entrepreneurs)
ITS TYME aims to enable marginalized African youths to acquire life skills and education in business and finance through apprenticeships, such as the MainOne Cloud Apprenticeship Programme for young Nigerian graduates.Â
This program has trained over 6,000 semi-literate people across Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Over 700 businesses have also been founded during the period.
2. The Africa Young Entrepreneur Support (YES) Program
The YES program empowers young social entrepreneurs to create remarkable change in their local communities.
The participants acquire business and leadership skills in the course of this entrepreneurship program.
Top fellows stand the chance of receiving funding in grants up to $15,000.
3. The Pan-African Youth Entrepreneur Development (PAYED)
Since October 2017, PAYED has been training and supporting 600 young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya for 12 months.
The program aims to empower entrepreneurs with small businesses, enabling them to develop skills for business and sales advancement, such as those offered through the AFIDBA Programme for young African entrepreneurs.
4. STEP, Youth Entrepreneurial Training Program for Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
Since its first training in 2008, STEP has trained over 10,000 students in secondary schools, universities, and vocational centres across Africa, North America, and Asia.
The program raises the predisposition of students to start their businesses using relatable entrepreneurial experience, creating an increased rate of 39% of new jobs.
5. The Tony Elumelu Foundation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), launched the first phase of the TEF-UNDP Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in 2019.
The program aimed to empower about 100,000 young entrepreneurs of African origin with seed capital and mentorship in business.Â
6. The Asia Entrepreneurship Training Program (AETP)
The Asia Entrepreneurship Training Program is an entrepreneurial training program targeted at empowering entrepreneurs in Indonesia and ASEAN countries and setting them up for business success.
The Swiss government set up the program for free to cater to start-ups in the advanced stages and social-impact projects seeking financial support to expand their reach to Switzerland and ASEAN countries, particularly Indonesia.
7. Asian Business Training and Mentorship Program
This training and mentorship program is created for businesses of Asian origin.
The first stage of the training has ten sessions that last 2 hours each.
The sessions aim to afford trainees sufficient time to learn, practice, and report on their results.
They get to learn the strategies for running profitable businesses in the course of the first nine classes.
In the tenth class, the participants present what they have learned during the training.
The class topics include ideas and innovation, human resources, leadership, cost control, etc.
Learn about business funding opportunities and awards for African entrepreneurs.
8. The European Exchange Program for Entrepreneurs
The purpose of this program is to connect new entrepreneurs with experienced ones who run businesses across countries.
The aspiring entrepreneur gains relevant skills needed for business by tapping into the wealth of knowledge of the experienced one.
9. Training Course “Empowering Youth Entrepreneurship”
This training project aims to give young people opportunities to gain essential skills that will enable them to develop personally through education.
The participants also get to share their knowledge and skills with others.
Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to exchange their experiences concerning entrepreneurship in their respective countries.
As part of the program, they will learn various skills such as creating a business plan and proposal, crafting project proposals, applying for grants, and more, employing effective methods.
Check out some grants you can apply for right now!
10. Aflatoun International Youth Entrepreneurial Training Program
Aflatoun International has developed a program for teenagers called Aflateen.
The lessons to be learned include those dealing with money and marketing targeted at their age bracket.
They will be equipped to fit into the uncertain future of the labour market.
The digital/online platform now makes it possible for young people to acquire social and financial skills from anywhere in the world.
11. Black African and Caribbean Entrepreneurship Leadership (BACEL) Youth Entrepreneurial Training Program
This skill empowerment program targets the black community, aiming to train 400 entrepreneurs over 20 months.
Participants in this program have the opportunity to build entrepreneurial capacity, network, and receive needed assistance without paying a fee.
Explore similar creative empowerment programs available for residents in Lagos state.Â
12. Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP)
Former recipients of MTN scholarships get the chance to upgrade their entrepreneurial skills.
Furthermore, after the training, the best 50 participants can get up to 2 million naira in grants to start their businesses.
Conclusion on Youth Entrepreneurial Training Programs
I have explained above just a few of the many programs out there that aim to empower youth for entrepreneurial success.
With the right training, young people will become self-sufficient and, in turn, employers of labour.
