Taking the bull by the horns. New book on youth entrepreneurship

Published by Soualiga Newsday – April 5, 2022

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) signed a mutual agreement to produce and publish a booklet about youth entrepreneurship in Sint Maarten. Both organizations experience a growing demand from youngsters to learn more about the possibilities of starting their enterprise.

COCI became very much aware of this demand during an educational campaign at the (high) schools about the rules and regulations to start an enterprise in 2021. In the school year 2020 – 2021, the campaign engaged 372 students from 10 secondary and advanced schools. After positive feedback, continuous engagement ensued for 2021 – 2022, reaching 418 students and 12 educational institutions.

In their report, the COCI acknowledges: ‘Through this initiative, COCI desires to foster an entrepreneurial culture among the youths within our educational institutions. The Chamber sees this as an opportunity to engage, inspire, and educate the youth of St. Maarten on entrepreneurship and innovation. The Chamber would like to know that the youth is inspired and curious about solving their issues and island-wide matters. The Chamber knows of the talent and potential of the younger generation and would like to help equip them better and advance their potential’.

PJL started in 2021 with the building up of a collection of books and e-books about young entrepreneurship. This effort was sponsored by the Dutch Royal Library. At the same time, the PJL sent out a survey to all high schools to learn more about the young entrepreneurship spirit among the Sint Maarten youth.

So far, 173 students between 12 and 19 years old responded, and, interesting enough, 95 of them were female, and 78 were male. Some students are pretty aware of their talents and are confident that they can start an enterprise. Others are still in an orientation phase. More than 50% are already involved in some enterprise and have a well-defined product or service they are selling. A vast majority save the profits in their piggy bank or re-invest in their enterprise and are interested in a young entrepreneurship program.

The Chamber and the Library take the bull by the horns by sharing facts and figures, experiences and challenges, successes and broken dreams. This booklet about young entrepreneurship in Sint Maarten will be the second volume in the series about youth in Sint Maarten. The booklet’s publication is scheduled for international entrepreneurship day, August 21, 2022. Don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber and/ or the Library for more information.