This project will provide 15 young entrepreneurs with capacity building in both technical and business skills. These young people, selected on the basis of their vulnerability, graduated from a 10 month training in horticulture and set up their own cooperative. They then obtained an interest free loan from Aspyre Africa and 2 hectares of land on loan from the local university for 2 years. This project will guarantee the success of the cooperative and secure their futures.
Projects supporting young people in Senegal usually focus on providing either vocational training or financial support to set up small businesses, either through grants or loans. Rarely are the two combined, and more importantly rarely are they accompanied by continued support to guarantee the success and sustainability of these livelihoods. Without a minimum of supervision and capacity building vulnerable young people are likely see their projects fail.
We will provide a regular follow up and tailored training for 2 years in financial management, marketing & leadership through our qualified local project manager. A trainer from the horticulture centre from which they graduated will help them monitor their crops and provide continuous technical capacity building. The project manager will also facilitate training session with local practitioners with specific expertise.
The project will guarantee the success of the cooperative including: the successful repayment of their loan to Aspyre Africa (which will help fund the next cohort), the provision of a secure income for each member of the cooperative, the acquisition of all the necessary skills for the cooperative to start on another plot of land after the 2 years, or for individuals to start their own business without any additional supervision. 15 young people will have secure livelihoods.
