By| Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
Sowing the Seeds of Innovation: Small Business Bureau Launches 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The Small Business Bureau (SBB), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has officially kicked off the 2026 cycle of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP). The initiative aims to transform secondary school students from job seekers into job creators by embedding business literacy into the national curriculum.
The launch commenced with a specialized teacher orientation and business plan development workshop at the SBB Head Office, where 26 educators were trained to serve as frontline mentors for the next generation of Guyanese moguls.
Empowering Students through “Venture Capital” Style Awards
The YEP is designed to simulate real-world business development, moving from the classroom to the boardroom.
- Structured Mentorship: Students are tasked with conceptualizing a viable business idea and drafting a comprehensive business plan.
- Direct Funding: In 2026, 60 students from 12 secondary schools will be selected based on the scalability and practicality of their proposals. These winners will receive monetary awards to serve as “seed capital” for their ventures.
- Skill Acquisition: Beyond the cash, participants undergo intensive training in marketing, financial management, and operational discipline.
A Legacy of Impact: 2020 to Present
Since its inception in 2020, YEP has become a cornerstone of Guyana’s enterprise development strategy.
- The Numbers: Over the last six years, the programme has awarded 150 students from 39 schools nationwide.
- Investment: More than $8 million has been distributed in monetary awards to support innovative student-led projects.
- Women in Business: The programme has seen a significant surge in female participation, with 108 young women benefiting to date—a trend that SBB officials say highlights the growing creativity and ambition of Guyana’s girls.
Leadership Perspectives
Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim, CEO of the Small Business Bureau, described entrepreneurship as a “critical pillar” of the nation’s economic future.
“We are not only providing monetary awards; we are nurturing innovation, discipline, and self-reliance at an early stage. This programme reflects the Government’s sustained commitment to equipping young people with the tools to create their own opportunities.” — Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim, CEO, SBB
YEP 2026 Snapshot
| Metric | 2026 Targets / Historical Total |
| New Beneficiaries | 60 Students |
| Participating Schools | 12 (Current) / 39 (Total) |
| Educators Trained | 26 Teachers |
| Total Distributed | $8 Million+ (Since 2020) |
| Female Beneficiaries | 108 (Total to date) |
The YEP remains a key component of the Government’s broader agenda to promote regional economic empowerment, ensuring that the fruits of Guyana’s rapid development reach students in every corner of the country.
