CEO shares ‘A Brighter Future’ with CYP

Meetings to explore the possibility of a partnership between CYP and ‘A Brighter Future’ were held on Friday 15 September and Monday 9 October, at the CYP Pan-Commonwealth office in London.

‘A Brighter Future’ is an international youth design and manufacturing enterprise, which supports young people in establishing micro enterprises. ABF were referred to CYP by the International Labour Organisation because of the synergy between ABF’s ambition of providing enterprise opportunities for young people and CYP’s ‘Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods’ (YESL) programme.

The meetings were held in the presence of Dr Fatiha Serour, Director of CYP, Mr. Andrew Simmons, former Deputy Director of CYP, Ms Cristal de Saldanha Stainbank, Adviser for Youth Development, CYP, Mr. Albert Smith, Chief Executive Officer of ABF, and Mr. Julius Mutio, Project Director of ABF.  
 
In this CYP interview, Mr. Albert Smith, CEO of ‘A Brighter Future’, shares the purpose of the organisation, and tells us how it can contribute towards the empowerment of young people. 

CYP: What is ‘A Brighter Future’? Where are you based, and who are the main partners involved?

CEO: A Brighter Future (ABF) is an International Youth Design and Manufacturing Enterprise, in partnership with Barnardo’s and the UNDP, working with schools, disadvantaged communities in Africa and multinational corporations. The enterprise will deliver opportunities for young people to develop their creative and enterprise skills and professional experience, through establishing and running supported micro enterprises. ABF provides all the young people involved with an opportunity to design, manufacture and sell highly marketable, good quality products in fashion stores across Europe and the USA – linking European schools to youth and micro enterprise development in Africa, whilst providing invaluable work experience and a route into a range of new employment and enterprise opportunities.

ABF operates all over London but has offices in North and South London. Its partners include: 

• Barnardo’s who have 330 shops across the UK and work with over 100,000 young people per year
• SA Jewel, who is a local bead manufacturer in South Africa working with disadvantaged communities
• Business Action for Africa (BAA) provides technical support and access to multinationals, Learning and Skills Council & European Social Fund provides funding for the initial UK pilot programme
• UNDP, who provide technical support, fund management and access to government networks
• ILO/YEN technical support and partnership development
• Schools, which provide young people.

CYP: When was ‘A Brighter Future’ established and what is its purpose?

CEO: ABF was originally established 2 years ago as a project, and has now formally been constituted as a Community Interest Company (non-profit making). The objective is to continue to re-integrate 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 and multinational corporations for the common aim of eradicating poverty through enterprise development.

CYP: Who runs the organisation?

CEO: A Brighter Future is managed the Chief Executive Officer under the overall supervision of the management committee and support by a small, but dedicated team of individuals who all have extensive experience of working in UK and Africa and with the target group. Additionally, ABF has a pool of local and internationally recognised specialist consultants, with wide ranging skills and abilities who are contracted as and when the need arises.

CYP: How does the organisation contribute towards the empowerment of young people?

CEO: In the main the enterprise delivers opportunities for young people to develop their creative and enterprise skills and professional experience, through establishing and running supported micro enterprises. ABF provides all the young people involved with an opportunity to design, manufacture and sell highly marketable, good quality products in fashion stores across Europe and the USA – linking European schools to youth and micro enterprise development in Africa, whilst providing invaluable work experience and a route into a range of new employment and enterprise opportunities.

CYP: How can young people from the Commonwealth get involved with the activities of ‘A Brighter Future’?

CEO: Young people will benefit by participating in the Youth enterprise start-up and employment creation programmes being developed in collaboration with UNDP, Barnardo’s and the Youth employment Network. These programmes are targeted to young people in Africa and the Caribbean. Young people can visit our website, http://www.abrighterfuture.eu/, which is constantly updated and will provide details of the projects that may be running in their area, or alternatively, they can call Julius Mutio, Project Director on +44 208 446 9919 for further details.

We are always keen and open to developing new partnerships with local and international organisations, and are always looking for individuals to get involved.

Secretariat Links:

• Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Development

Related Websites:

• A Brighter Future
• Barnardo’s
• United Nations Development Programme
• International Labour Organisation