POINT, Hanover — Forty-eight youngsters with an eye for enterprise in this parish will benefit from the new Youth Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) Competition, a joint venture between the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Infiniti Co-operative Credit Union.

The first of its kind in Jamaica, YEP was launched at Grand Palladium Hotel on Wednesday.

Students from four of the parish’s six high schools — Rusea’s, Green Island, Merlene Ottey, and Knockalva Technical — will engage in a contest set to conclude on June 10.

Each approved participant or team will receive $10,000 in seed funding, deposited into an Infiniti Credit Union Youth Account. To qualify, ventures must meet real needs within participants’ schools or communities, demonstrate innovation, and show potential for long-term sustainability.

Rusea’s High ninth-grader Jessica Gray was excited for the opportunity to grow her existing business. She said her venture, which is currently being supported by family, friends, and well-wishers, is doing well in St James and Hanover.

“[Funds from the contest] will assist me in expanding it to buy more supplies for the betterment of me and my customers,” Gray told the Jamaica Observer during Wednesday’s launch.

She would like to become a lawyer in addition to managing her own business.

Green Island High upper-sixth form student Orlando Hylton, who is currently working on starting a stationary business that provides school supplies, was a bit nervous as he recognises that entrepreneurship is risky.

“Upon realising that the school does not have a book room that sells school supplies, I took it upon myself seeing that this opportunity [the competition] was presented to me to go ahead and do it,” said Hylton.

For the long term, he wants to become an airline pilot while operating a livestock farm in his spare time. If he decides not to maintain the stationery business, Hylton said, he will pass it on to a classmate.

Merlene Ottey High 10th grade student Kamachia McBean already has plans to use the funds she will receive to expand her cookies business by adding doughnuts and snacks.

“It has been going well because the profit is very great,” revealed McBean who said she gets lots of support from schoolmates.

Her plan A is a career in nursing, being a flight attendant is plan B and plan C is to be a chef. Whatever her path, she hopes to continue her business on the side.

At the end of the programme, outstanding participants will be recognised and rewarded.

The student who places first will receive a trophy, certificate, and a $90,000 business grant while second place will receive a trophy, certificate, and a $60,000 grant. Third place will be presented with a trophy, certificate, and a $30,000 grant.

Special awards will also be presented at the school level, and all participants will receive certificates of participation. Additionally, participants will benefit from ongoing mentorship and training in entrepreneurship, marketing, and social media marketing. Business expos will be hosted at each participating school, providing students with the opportunity to showcase their ventures to their peers and the wider community.

“We commend these schools for answering the call and taking the bold step to invest in their students’ entrepreneurial potential. By the end of this programme, we expect our participants to demonstrate increased confidence, stronger leadership skills, improved financial discipline, and practical experience in running a business. More importantly, they will have laid a solid foundation for future entrepreneurial pursuits,” stated SDC Parish Manager Tova Trench-Anderson in explaining the benefits of the programme.

Infiniti Cooperative Credit Union will be providing support in two forms, monetary — just under $1 million — and mentorship.

“We are going to guide the students along the way, giving information on how to budget, how to save, how to create a cash flow and how to create a network,” said Regional Sales Manager of Infinity Co-operative Credit Union Conroy Ward.

Meanwhile Member of Parliament (MP) for Hanover Eastern Andrea Purkiss announced during the function that she will be adding to the prize money. She said she was impressed with the business ideas presented by the students.

“I am really delighted, though, that the children are so creative in Hanover. I sat in that room and I listened to the business concepts, the names of the businesses that they came up with on their own,” stated the Purkiss, who argued that coming out of Hurricane Melissa, it is important to have a skill that the students can depend on.

Knockalva Technical High School grade 10 student, Keana Oliver (left) speaking with her peer from Merlene Ottey High Kamachia McBean on the sidelines of the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Youth Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) during the launch on Wednesday. (Anthony Lewis)

Regional sales manager of Infinity Co-operative Credit Union, Conroy Ward is among the attendees at the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Wednesday launch of the Youth Entrepreneur Programme (YEP). Anthony Lewis)

Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern, Andrea Purkiss speaking says she was impressed with students’ ideas presented Wednesday during the launch of the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Youth Entrepreneur Programme (YEP). (Anthony Lewis)