The Musson Foundation is once again championing youth entrepreneurship by sponsoring the annual National Business Model Competition (NBMC).

This is the foundation’s third straight year supporting the initiative as a bronze sponsor, with an annual contribution of $500,000.

First held in 2013, the NBMC is designed to encourage and promote the creative and innovative thinking of students, facilitate local entrepreneurial skills and enhance collaboration and communication among private sector stakeholders and educational institutions.

Chairperson of the foundation, Melanie Subratie, told the NBMC launch last Wednesday that it was proud to continue supporting the initiative.

“The foundation is all about youth empowerment through a variety of means including entrepreneurship, and so this fits perfectly within our mandate,” she said.

“Jamaica has some exceptional young minds, and I am just pleased that the foundation can be a part of mentoring them and making their dreams a reality,” Subratie noted.

She added that by nurturing and rewarding their entrepreneurial drive the competition was, in fact, making a meaningful contribution to Jamaica’s future economic growth and development.

The Musson Foundation was incorporated in 2013 and promotes and encourages the advancement of education among poor, inner-city children and young people; supports poverty reduction in youth; and promotes community development activities in inner-city communities.

Initiatives supported by the foundation include coding and technology training workshops for students and teachers; Outreach Day; robotics; RISE Life Management; and the Jamaican Girls Coding programme. The foundation is also a sponsor of Jamaica’s award-winning robotics team.