CBZ Holdings Limited has partnered Empowered Life Trust, a non-profit making organisation on a program entitled Youth Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) which will run from this month (October 2016) to March 2017. The Youth Entrepreneurs Program (YEP), is a practical and results-based initiative to produce growth-oriented (not survivalist) profitable businesses that are run professionally by youth (18-30 years of age) from all 10 Provinces in Zimbabwe. This a follow-up to our radio program that is currently running every Wednesday on StarFM from 0930hrs to 1000hrs (Shot in the Arm)

Financial Inclusion

YEP is in-line with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe`s 2016-2020 National Financial Inclusion Strategy as part of efforts to foster economic and social development by increasing fiscal space for previously marginalised key players such as smallholder farmers, women, youth, micro-small to medium scale enterprises in the formal banking system.

Expected Outcome

YEP graduates will be required to start businesses that make profits and are run professionally within a period of 90 days. The first phase of the program will involve visits to all 10 provinces to deliver public “Introduction to Entrepreneurship” workshops for the youth. At least 100 participants per Province will attend the first workshop. From these, 10 participants from each of the 10 Provinces will be selected to go to the next round. Selection will be based on performance and responsiveness to the given assignments. After further training and assessment, 2 participants per province will be selected to proceed to the final level (third phase) of the program. These finalists will each receive seed capital to use in their small businesses and based on how they perform the top 10 will be awarded prizes money. Terms and conditions relating to the prize money will restrict the usage of the money to business use (e.g. expansion of the winners’ business ventures). The 10 winners will each receive further support in the form of one on one coaching from Empowered Life Trust.

Follow http://tinyurl.com/cbz2016 to apply online, alternatively visit any CBZ Bank branch nationwide to sign up for the challenge. Like and follow developments on our Facebook page CBZ Holdings.

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