WHAT KENYAN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS NEED
The Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (Yipe.org) undertook a survey of 82 entrepreneurs from January to June 2008,and found:
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The need to access business skills training is paramount. Youth entrepreneurs recognize that most ventures fail due to not starting and growing their enterprise properly. Youth entrepreneurs need to access information on how to implement the most effective marketing methods. Access to credit was a major concern for youth entrepreneurs.. Youth entrepreneurs need information on how to form strategic partnerships.
www.marsgroupkenya.org/yipe
Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (Yipe.org)
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Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (Yipe.org) E-mail: info@yipe.x10hosting.com
http://marsgroupkenya.org/yipe
www.marsgroupkenya.org/ yipe
E-mail: info@yipe.x10hosting.com
What is the Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise Gateway (Yipe.org)?
Challenges faced by Kenya’s youth entrepreneurs
Young Kenyan entrepreneurs face a multitude of obstacles to business sustainability. The most overt being:
Benefits of Yipe.org Enterprise Gateway
By directly addressing the challenges Kenyan youth entrepreneurs face, the Yipe.org Enterprise Gateway benefits youth entrepreneurs in the following ways:
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The Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise Gateway (Yipe.org) is an online portal providing business skills training, information on how to access finance and business opportunities to Kenyan youth entrepreneurs, in a country where over 70% of micro, small and medium enterprises do not survive their first year of operation. The portal is the first of its kind in Kenya Over 70% of microspecifically targeting enterprises in Kenya do youth entrepreneurs not survive 1 year with free information and resources aimed at ensuring business sustainability. Unlike other Kenyan business website, Yipe.org’s portal also hosts a network platform for young entrepreneurs who aim to create and manage growth oriented social enterprises. On a wider scale, the portal also provides valuable information to aspiring entrepreneurs, business and economic development students, microfinance institution managers, government policy makers as well as development agencies seeking to promote business opportunities and wealth creation in Kenya.
Lack of credit: youth owned enterprises are generally undercapitalized, thus tending to be less productive.
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Training: provision of information, articles, training modules and templates in easy to understand language.
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Lack of business education & financial literacy: even though the entrepreneurial spirit is alive amongst the youth, their level of business understanding is shallow. Youth business owners also lack access to market information that could give them a competitive edge.
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Marketing: articles on marketing as well as a networking facility to create partnerships. Access to credit: listing on sources of finance, their requirements as well as advise on developing business plans.
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Age discrimination: youth owned enterprises are often perceived as “hobbies” with no growth potential. Youth entrepreneurs are also vulnerable to dissuasion from authority figures and peers.
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Competition: articles on how to identify and maintain the business’ competitive edge. E-commerce: advice on how to leverage ICT for business. Youth Enterprise Network: a network hosted by Yipe.org bringing together entrepreneur users in discussion forums.
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Education system un-conducive to enterprise: the current Kenyan education system does not provide school leavers with skills to start and manage their businesses. Youthful creativity is stifled through a curriculum based on rote learning.
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Poor network: youth entrepreneurs often work in isolation, missing out on rewarding business contacts and mentors. And much, much more!
www.marsgroupkenya.org/ yipe
Youth Interactive Portal for Enterprise (Yipe.org)
E-mail: info@yipe.x10hosting.com http://marsgroupkenya.org/yipe