WWW.YOUTHBUSINESS.BZ December 2012 EDITION YBTB & University of Belize host Entrepreneurship & Innovation Expo Confidence, Creativity, Opportunity: Driving Entrepreneurship Forward Entrepreneur Review Youth Business Trust Belize in collaboration with the Univer- sity of Belize (UB) for the first year on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 piloted an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Expo. This event was one of the highlights of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2012 that allowed the Innovation and Creativity par- ticipants, UB marketing stu- dents and, young entrepreneurs to showcase and highlight their products and services. (read more on page 3) Promoting Entrepreneurship Among Primary Schools As part of this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week celebrations, Youth Business Trust Belize invited primary schools in Belize City to carry out activities that would promote and plant the seed of entrepreneurship in the students from that very young age. Four Belize City primary schools took on the initiative and organized different activities as part of the global celebration. Grace Primary School held a street festival with mini stalls allowing stu- dents to play the role of young business men and women selling a vari- ety of products. Some of the products included fruit smoothies, pas- tries, fry chicken, jewelry and, souvenirs among others. Other participating schools were St. John Vianney Primary School, St. Mary’s Primary School, and Queen Square Primary school. At these participating schools students displayed their skills and creativity prov- ing that though they are young, they possess entrepreneurial qualities and have the potential to become successful business men and women. Inside Issues: GM’s Greeting Pg 2 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Expo Pg. 3 Launch of GEW Belize 2012 Pg. 4 5th Annual General Meeting Pg. 4 Global Entrepreneurship Week 2012 Pg. 6 YBTB Young Entrepreneur Pg. 7
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WWW.YOUTHBUSINESS.BZ December 2012 EDITION
YBTB & University of Belize host Entrepreneurship & Innovation Expo
2nd Place- Maud Williams High School-cash prize $450
3rd Place Toledo Community College-cash prize $250
The 2012 District Winners of the Innovation and Creativity Competition 2012 are:
Belize District: Orange Walk District:
1st Place - Maud Williams High School 1st Place - ITVET O. W.
2nd Place - Edward P. Yorke High School
3rd Place - Young Women's Christian Association
Cayo District: Toledo District:
1st Place - Belmopan Comprehensive School 1st Place- Toledo Community College
2nd Place - Sacred Heart College 2nd Place - ITVET Toledo
3rd Place - National 4H Youth Development Center
Stann Creek District:
1st Place - Delille Academy 2nd Place - ITVET Stann Creek
Other prizes given for the competition were:
The Most Functional Product-Anglican Cathedral College
The Most Innovative Presentation - Edward P. York High School
The Most Market Ready Product and The Pacesetter-National 4 H Development Center
Winners of Entrepreneurship Booths were also awarded at the Expo and they are as follows: (prizes were provided courtesy of Habet & Habet, GS COM, Atlantic Insurance, Courts Belize, Maya Island Air)
Best Marketed Product -Ice Cream Gelato- Coby Tablet and Speaker and $50 gift Certificate Entrepreneurial Spirit/ Dynamic Presentation-Old Taste Home Style BBQ Sauce- $250 Cash Most attractive Booth Soapy Expression- $200 Cash The People Choice- Soapy Expression- two round trip tickets to San Pedro
YBTB THANKS ALL SPONSORS, PARTICIPATING
SCHOOLS, AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS FOR MAKING
THIS A SUCCESS!
Page 4
Launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week Belize
Youth Business Trust Belize continues to build the spirit of entrepreneurship in Belize. On
August 26th, 2012, Youth Business Trust Belize held the “Launch of Global Entrepreneur-
ship Week Belize 2012 Campaign.“
The event was held in collaboration with the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The
purpose was to launch the calendar of events for and leading up to Global Entrepreneurship
Week 2012 (GEW) as well as to invite individuals and organizations to partner with YBTB for GEW.
The Keynote speaker at the Launch event was U.S. Ambassador to Belize Mr. Vinai
Thummalapally. The Ambassador took this opportunity to present YBTB with
the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) Grant Funds for
the Innovation & Creativity Competition project. The goal of this project is to increase
economic opportunity through the cultivation of creativity and innovativeness in prod-
uct design with a business focus. The project targets high school aged youths.
Other speakers were YBTB’s Chairman, Mr. Shaun Finnetty, President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ms. Kay Menzies and President of the University of Belize, Dr. Cary Fraser.
5th Annual General Meeting
On August 30th, 2012 Youth Business Trust Belize held its 5th Annual
General Meeting. The meeting commenced with remarks from the
Chairman, Mr. Shaun Finnetty. Followed by a review and acceptance of
the minutes of the 4th GM, and presentation of the 2011-2012 audited
financials by YBTB’s treasurer.
The General Manager, Ms. Deanna Gomez, went over the Year in Re-
view which highlighted the year’s accomplishments and activities. The meeting concluded with the confirma-
tion of Castillo Sanchez & Burrell as the auditors for the next fiscal year followed by a Cocktail.
Youth Business Trust Belize in partnership with the Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina held a HAPPY
HOUR BUSINESS MIXER at the Stone Grill on November 16th, 2012. Business institutions, entrepreneurs
and, the general public were invited to be a part of this networking opportunity held in celebration of Global
Entrepreneurship Week Belize 2012. Attendees had the opportunity to give sales pitch and network.
There were give-aways courtesy of the event sponsors: Radisson Fort George Hotel, Bowen & Bowen Ltd.,
Traveler’s Liquors. Live entertainment was provided by MJ’s Vibration Band.
Page 5
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2012
Entrepreneurship Symposium Youth Business Trust Belize in collaboration with the University of Belize (UB) held its third annual ENTRE-
PRENEURSHIP SYMPOSIUM.
Dr. Wilma Wright, Interim Provost at UB gave the welcome address and the keynote address was given by Hon.
Santiago Castillo, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance & Econ. Development.
The Symposium featured a panel of entrepreneurs from the various business sectors. The entrepreneurs spoke to
their successes & challenges and shared their overall journey to enterprise.
The panelists were: (from left to right) Mr. Javier Basto owner of Basto’s Plantain
Chips, Ms. Melonie Gillett, Artist/Entrepreneur, Ms. Jenna Ferguson, owner of
Faith n Fitness Club, and Mr. Andre Perez, owner of Casa Pan Dulce.
The second panel discussion focused on the micro finance landscape in Belize. Rep-
resentatives from the participating organizations spoke to the services, opportunities
& support offered to entrepreneurs and, overall challenges faced by these micro-financing institutions. Institu-
tions represented were: Youth Business Trust Belize, Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology, La Immacu-
lada Credit Union, and Belize Rural Finance Program.
Youth Business Trust Belize thanks all entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, panelists, the business commu-
nity and, the general public who participated in this year’s Entrepreneurship Symposium which was held on No-
vember 15th, at the Jaguar Auditorium, UB, Belmopan Campus.
Happy Hour Business Mixer
Page 6
Creative Business Cup
Youth Business Trust Belize
presents the winners for the
Creative Business Cup Com-
petition 2012.
Youth Business Trust Belize takes this opportunity to thank the Institute of
Creative Arts & NICH for partnering with us in piloting event.
Youth Business Trust Belize in collaboration with the Institute of Creative Arts, hosted for the first time the
“Creative Business Cup” Competition. The “Creative Business Cup Competition” is an international busi-
ness planning competition that focus on the creative industries.
Through this competition, YBTB and ICA hoped to improve the business skills and the willingness of artists
to see the cultivating of their talents in a more business like manner. By taking part in this competition, en-
trepreneurs were able to increase their ability to successfully start up a company based on their creative com-
petencies.
1st Place Winner :
Luna Maya Cultural Events & Dance
Prize: $1,100 Cash
6 Month Business Mentoring
2nd Place Winner :
Determined to Hustle Recording Studio
Prize: $900 Cash
6 Months Business Mentoring
Page 7
Young Entrepreneur
Cesar Gonzalez, Lead Guitarist, Ascenthium
“We are a rock band and we are trying to introduce rock to
Belize, but the way we are trying to do it is different from
other rock bands. We started off with acoustic guitars to show
what we actually have and then slowly advanced to a few
other members—we included electric guitars. We didn’t go
straight into hard rock. We provided smooth sultry music so
that people could listen to the soft side of us.
Dina Halsall, Bassist, Ascenthium
“I think it is about time for people to recognize that rock music is a genre in
the country and it’s been here for a while. I mean in Orange Walk, in Coro-
zal, in Cayo, people listen to it; they really enjoy it. And I think it needs to be
put out there in a way that people can swallow it but at the same time with the
depth that it actually carries.”
With assistance from Youth Business Trust Belize, Ascenthium Rock Band was able to acquire new instru-
ments.
Ascenthium Rock Band recently won Channel 5’s “Be the Next Superstar”.
We Welcome Ascenthium Rock Band to the YBTB family!
