Youth given opportunity to expand business

May 28, 2018 News

–plans to employ single parents

Zanzi Atkins-Dey, owner of Amaze, was one of the eleven persons to be awarded the opportunity to expand her business last week Thursday at the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s inaugural Youth Business Summit.
Atkins told this publication that winning is a dream come through.
“This grant means a lot for me and my husband because we’ve dreamt about owning our own business for a long time,” Atkins said.
The business has been in existence for over two years. Amaze started out of Atkin’s kitchen, but later grew to the point where she was forced to rent a bigger place and employed two persons.
Due to the lack of enough equipment, Atkins could only create part-time employment. She said both her current employees are single parents, but explained that it has been difficult to keep employees for long because of the lack of work.
Atkins said that it has always been her passion to render assistance to single parents.
“We see there is a need that is often time missed by persons who are offering social support in various communities. There are single parents everywhere…so we have this thing where we hire single parents,” she said.
With the victory, Atkins will now be able to rent a bigger space and purchase the necessary material needed for the expansion.

Youth Business, Some of the youths who participated in the Youth Business Summit.

With the new equipment and space, Atkins said she will now be able to create full-time employment thus creating a better opportunity for them.
Amaze is located in North Ruimveldt; the company sells fresh packaged chopped vegetable.
Last Thursday, scores of youth from all walks of life across the Ten Administrative Regions of Guyana presented their business ideas to a panel of judges at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, at the inaugural Youth Business Summit.
The Youth Business Summit was a two-day event held by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion.

Zanzi Atkins, right collects the winning certificate while her business partner, left looks on

Twenty-seven youths were given seven minutes each to pitch their business ideas to a tough but knowledgeable panel of judges.
Pepper sauce, poultry farming, clothing, honey, Chopped vegetables and care for the elderly, were just some of the ideas presented yesterday.
The event catered for 100 youths but 40 were shortlisted to pitch to the judges. Of the 40, 27 were selected to present their ideas. The reason for this Kaieteur News was told is because some of the business plans were not well thought out.
Nevertheless, the judges all agreed that the ideas were all great.
Persons from all the regions submitted business plans to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and 100 were selected to participate.
The Ministry provided transportation and accommodation for the hinterland youths who came to Georgetown to pitch their ideas last Thursday.
Ronald Austin, Director of Education and Training at the Ministry of the Presidency and Chairperson of the Guyana Youth Business Summit Committee said that persons who won the opportunity to develop their business or create a new business will have to present the Ministry with Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN), business registration and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) registration in order to get the grants.
He said that the winners will also have to provide the Ministry with quotations for whatever materials they may need for their business.
“When they present us with their quotation, we will write the cheques directly to the proprietor,” Austin said.
Apart from a well thought out plan, the judges looked for ideas that benefitted their community and ideas that incorporated Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
The Grants will range from $500,000 to $1M.