Mahendranath Busgopaul, Country Coordinator Mentorship Programme for young entrepreneurs YES Mauritius Network

Description of Project Target Group (Who do/did you target?) Target Group (Who do/did you target?) This project targets private sector This project targets private sector –businesses managers –Young Entrepreneurs Rationale for Intervention (Why was this project developed?) Rationale for Intervention (Why was this project developed?) To provide role models who can encourage the young entrepreneur and whose example the young entrepreneur can emulate To provide role models who can encourage the young entrepreneur and whose example the young entrepreneur can emulate Project Goals (What were you aiming to achieve?) Project Goals (What were you aiming to achieve?) To increase the productivity of youth enterprises by providing a mentorship programme To increase the productivity of youth enterprises by providing a mentorship programme Project Design Principles (What were the values used in project design and development?) Project Design Principles (What were the values used in project design and development?) - Project Duration Project Duration As per the project description, the mentorship programme shall run for a period of one year as a pilot. As per the project description, the mentorship programme shall run for a period of one year as a pilot. Project Inputs (What resources were used to develop this project?) Project Inputs (What resources were used to develop this project?)

Project Cycle Conceptualization (Where and how was the project conceptualization and what were the incentives for stakeholders?) Conceptualization (Where and how was the project conceptualization and what were the incentives for stakeholders?) The Youth Development Network (YDN) developed a framework for the implementation of the programme in four countries in the SADC region including Mauritius. The Youth Development Network (YDN) developed a framework for the implementation of the programme in four countries in the SADC region including Mauritius. Incentives for mentors include: Mentor recognition at the end of the programme Incentives for mentors include: Mentor recognition at the end of the programme Protégés will be streamlined to benefit from government loans to expand their businesses through YES Mauritius structures. Protégés will be streamlined to benefit from government loans to expand their businesses through YES Mauritius structures.

Implementation Implementation (Where, how and who implemented the project activities?) The YES Mauritius Network, which comprises of 7 national organisations, implements the mentorship programme in Mauritius. The help of YDN was imperative to reach this end.The YES Mauritius Network, which comprises of 7 national organisations, implements the mentorship programme in Mauritius. The help of YDN was imperative to reach this end. YES Mauritius identified, recruited the mentors and protegees. Our staff provided the necessary skills to encourage the young entrepreneurs to get involved in the project. The initiation of the programme to other para-statal bodies was also important to have more people tied to the project.YES Mauritius identified, recruited the mentors and protegees. Our staff provided the necessary skills to encourage the young entrepreneurs to get involved in the project. The initiation of the programme to other para-statal bodies was also important to have more people tied to the project. The launch and opening ceremony of the mentorship programme was done by the Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius amidst other key personalities of the Republic and the Director of YDN.The launch and opening ceremony of the mentorship programme was done by the Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius amidst other key personalities of the Republic and the Director of YDN. After the launch, YES-Mauritius conducted a 3 day training programme for the mentors which was conducted by one staff of YDN. After the training of mentors, there were orientation sessions for the proteges, carried out by YES MauritiusAfter the launch, YES-Mauritius conducted a 3 day training programme for the mentors which was conducted by one staff of YDN. After the training of mentors, there were orientation sessions for the proteges, carried out by YES Mauritius

What are the results? Numbers of persons reached by the activities? Numbers of persons reached by the activities? (By age, gender and other important demographics) 8 Mentors ( 3 ladies and 5 men) from the private sector in Mauritius in the age range of 35 – 50 years are fully involved as mentors in the project for a duration of one year. The mentors expertise range from Aluminium manufacture to import/export businesses. The project also englobes seven more people who are the young entrepreneurs. Their age range from 20 to 30 years. The are from both the rural and urban region of the island. Response from Community (eg. Target Group or other people that benefited from the project) Response from Community (eg. Target Group or other people that benefited from the project) The project has been going on for almost 7 months and YES Mauritius has come up with the following resonses from the community: The project has been going on for almost 7 months and YES Mauritius has come up with the following resonses from the community: Government officials look to the project as an enthusiatic one as it will help the economy. Government officials look to the project as an enthusiatic one as it will help the economy. Private sector are more willing to depute their staff to get engagned in such work and are ready to free some time so that their personnel are trained and engaged in capacity building Private sector are more willing to depute their staff to get engagned in such work and are ready to free some time so that their personnel are trained and engaged in capacity building Proteges start to get used to the newly introduced concept. Despite results are not seen in the short term, they believe that it will be beneficial in the long run. Proteges start to get used to the newly introduced concept. Despite results are not seen in the short term, they believe that it will be beneficial in the long run.

YES Framework for Action (How was the 6Es achieved?) Employability: The young entrepreneurs are working with their mentors who are working in a more or less difficult field compared to the proteges areas of work. The mentors impart their skills to the proteges for example, placement of good in tourist area to boost up sales. Employment Creation: At the end of the mentoship programme, the proteges will start their own business or continue same and hence there will be a demand for more labour. Consequently, more young persons will be employed and hence an increase in the rate of youth employment. Equity: Equity has always been a major concern at YES Mauritius. Among our mentors and proteges, there are 6 females in total and given that Mauritius is a multi racial country, our mentors and proteges come from different religions and ethnic groups. We are providing the same facilities and advice irrespective of the proteges’ age Entrepreneurship: More young people are encouraged to get involved into new skills of entrepreneurship Environmental Sustainability: The question of environmental sustainability is still not a major issue at YES Mauritius. The mentors are looking closely about the environment aspect in order to make sure that we do not go against the Ministry of Environment Regulations. Empowerment: Plans for the future (eg. Scale up, new goals for the YES Network based on experience) Plans for the future (eg. Scale up, new goals for the YES Network based on experience) more people will be taken on board in the future YES Framework for Action

Challenges and lessons learnt Problems Faced (eg. economic, political, cultural, social etc.) Problems Faced (eg. economic, political, cultural, social etc.) Difficulties we had to undergo: Difficulties we had to undergo: Proteges: Reluctant to venture with strangers in business matters as it is seen as a private and personal matter. However, with the network staff and advice, we recruited around 10 proteges at the outset but afterwarsd some relinquished the programme. Proteges: Reluctant to venture with strangers in business matters as it is seen as a private and personal matter. However, with the network staff and advice, we recruited around 10 proteges at the outset but afterwarsd some relinquished the programme. Mentors: Lack of free to time to get engaged in community programme. The concept of volunteering is still new for the private sector businessmen Mentors: Lack of free to time to get engaged in community programme. The concept of volunteering is still new for the private sector businessmen What new knowledge has been generated based on experiences? What new knowledge has been generated based on experiences? Busineess people will volunteer their time Busineess people will volunteer their time Young Entrepreneurs learn a lot very quickly with experienced business people Young Entrepreneurs learn a lot very quickly with experienced business people