The CARICOM Commission Youth Development Report 2010 “Eye on the Future: Investing in Youth NOW for Tomorrow’s Community” provided the evidence for the establishment of a Youth Innovation (Youth-IN): A Caribbean Network for Youth Development project funded by the Government of Italy. The project supports youth beneficiaries aged 15-29 for youth INclusion, INterest, INnovation and INvolvement.  The  objective of the collaboration is to promote knowledge exchange and foster collaboration on film production and broadcasting and youth networking between the University of The West Indies – Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination (UWI-EBCCI) and Italian Centres of Excellence namely RadiotelevisioneItaliana 3 (RAI3) / Agenda del Mondo 1 and the Sapienza University of Rome.

The Youth-IN project is managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and following the successful implementation of phase one in 2012 was expanded in 2013 to included training and capacity building activities. On October 26th, 27th and 30th 2013 the UWI-EBCCI organised a Business Development Training Workshop for Youth-IN participants: included students of the UWI-EBCCI, Ministry of Culture, professionals in the film industry and participants of the Youth-IN Media Programme. A diverse and dynamic group of twenty-one young persons participated in the workshop  which was designed and delivered by Ms Maureen Salmon . She was an excellent facilitator and her method of delivery combination of theory and practice was interesting and informative, navigating participants through the complex and dynamic range of competencies (skills, aptitudes, experiences and behaviors) needed to develop as entrepreneurs and make a significant contribution to the social and economic development of Barbados, the region and globally.

The sessions focused on the following themes:
Entrepreneurism, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Self-Image and Personal Branding,  Business Planning Process, Exploring Creative  Ideas and Business Models,  Learning Tools for the Entrepreneur

The UWI-EBCCI envisages developing and implementing a creative business structure, such as cooperative that will: be owned and operated by youth; provide training and have a defined revenue structure for product development, distribution and marketing.

Samantha Suttle
Project Officer, Youth IN – Media, Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University of the West Indies