VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Empowering people to meet the global demands and challenges of our time; that is the call of Regent University’s School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship (GLE). Through its Peru initiative, GLE has recently trained 5,300 Peruvian youths in phase two of the Young Entrepreneurs Development program.
The first module of the second phase of the program focused on “Generating Business Ideas” and was offered in 15 locations throughout Lima, Peru and its adjacent cities. This phase, alone, empowered 5,300 participants and sparked their entrepreneurial spirit.
Those participants who qualified for the second level of training took another module in December 2008 titled "Developing Successful Business Plans." The third module will be comprised of those participants whose business plans were selected after a rigorous evaluation by a local committee of experts and will instruct participants on how to manage and lead a new business. From that group, the five participants whose projects were deemed most outstanding and most feasible will be awarded a financial grant to initiate their entrepreneurial endeavors. It is estimated that the program will conclude in March 2009.
“This was a very ambitious and complex model of international operations, yet it was a very rewarding one. Whether it meant providing the right tools to move from business ideas to actual businesses or to make business grow, Regent is in the business of empowering people right in their own context, in their own language so they can meet the local and global demands of our times; that is exactly what the School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship is all about,” said Marcela Chavan-Matviuk GLE international programs specialist.
In addition to GLE’s investment in this entrepreneurial initiative, key partnerships with Peruvian organizations were vital to the success of this initiative.
“Regent University created a synergy with several local organizations that made possible the improvement of leadership and entrepreneurship skills for thousands of entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. It also created a sustainable model for operations overseas. We are honored to be part of this accomplishment,” said Dr. Sergio Matviuk, GLE director of the Peru initiative.
Partner organizations included: PROBIDE and its prestigious national contest "Creer para Crear" (To Believe in order to Create), Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola and its Center for Small and Medium Business, INCUBA-Universities’ Business Incubators Network, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria's National Tech Institute, Administration Sciences’ Students National Association, and others.
Additionally, more than a dozen organizations joined in the training by providing facilities, technical support, equipment, publicity and countless more items necessary to secure good attendance while creating the appropriate learning environment.
Since 2002, Peru’s economy has begun to recover; however, its people still face challenges concerning poverty and social and economic inequalities. It is in this context of growth and opportunities, poverty and strong entrepreneurial spirit that the GLE Young Entrepreneurs Development Program takes strength in creating positive change and transforming the culture of Peru.
