Project Launch:

In 2010 the El Salvador generated significant interest in a youth entrepreneurship course and many students expressed interest in participating again and interest also came from new students. After several months of theoretical framework and periodic visits from local professionals and entrepreneurs, the students were able to develop their own business plans based on the information learned in the course. While the course was an excellent start and helped project organizers gauge interest, they opted to implement a more practical course. With a $500 grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2011, a second course focused more on practical applications of plans than on conceptual theories. As a result of direct feedback from the students who participated in the first course, organizers identified the need for some source of financing for youth generated, youth run project in order to spur interest and active participation amongst the students, and sustainability for the program. A small source of low interest credit was offered as a prize to the best proposals submitted by small student teams working together throughout the course. This project has the potential to grow and is a testament to the important role of young people and their ideas in emerging economies.