Creative Collaboration: Unleashing Potential of Youth Entrepreneurs

In August 2006, the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) was approached by a micro-enterprise organisation called A Brighter Future (ABF) to explore ways in which the two organisations could work together.

The first strategic partnership meeting between CYP and ABF took place on 15 September 2006 at the CYP pan-Commonwealth office in London.

Since then the two organisations have met on a regular basis to discuss ways in which they could collaborate. After months of fruitful discussions, it has been agreed that CYP in partnership with ABF will host a two day youth enterprise conference from 18-19 June 2007 at Marlborough House, home of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

The theme of the two day conference is ‘Creative Collaboration: Unleashing Potential of Youth Entrepreneurs’.

The main objective of the conference is to keep youth enterprise on the agenda by providing opportunities for young jewellery and fashion designers to gain access to finance, markets, and skills.

It will bring together buyers, financiers, fashion editors, multinational organisations, policy makers and young designers and will include an exclusive fashion show and a gala dinner with all the glitz and glamour.

The conference will take a holistic approach at empowering young people by involving them at every step of the planning process. CYP is gathering input from young people throughout the Commonwealth through its Regional Youth Caucus representatives as to the programme and the topics the conference should discuss.

It is hoped that the communiqué summarising the conference is presented at and feeds into discussions at the sixth Commonwealth Youth Forum which in turn is intended to feed into the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)) in Kampala, Uganda in November.

The conference is being organised by africapractice, a consultancy and events management firm that brings partners together to stimulate private sector business in Africa.

If you would like to find out more about the upcoming conference please visit the CYP website for regular updates. If you are a young jewellery or fashion designer and would like an opportunity to showcase your products to the people who matter, please contact Diane Mensah-Bonsu at d.mensah-bonsu@commonwealth.int.

ABF is an international youth design and manufacturing enterprise, working in partnership with Barnardo’s and the UNDP, to support young people in disadvantaged communities in establishing micro enterprises. ABF provides all the young people involved in their projects with an opportunity to design, manufacture and sell highly marketable, good quality products in fashion stores across Europe and the USA.

ABF was established two years ago and is a non-profit making organisation seeking to reintegrate young people at risk into mainstream education, preventing them joining the NEET (not in employment, education or training) group and work with disadvantaged communities in Africa for the common aim of eradicating poverty through enterprise development.

Related Websites:

• A Brighter Future
• Africa Practice
• Barnardo’s
• United Nations Development Programme