In 2011, Mark Simpson, a business teacher at George Brown College, decided entrepreneurship skills might be a pretty good way for youth with various barriers to employment to lift themselves out of the heap.
He piloted a program that has since turned into Business in the Streets, or BITS. Starting Sept. 27, it will be offering 10, three-hour weekly sessions for people aged 16 to 29 with a business idea and nowhere to go with it.
“The learning sessions are facilitated by peer-mentors who are young business professionals, outstanding business students and graduates trained to deliver peer-mentorship support to participants,” says Veronika Kvon, who’s managing the program.
Since it was launched in 2012, Kvon says there have been 85 people take advantage of the program, 13 businesses registered, four post-secondary enrolments and more than $10,000 in start-up financing handed out with the help of 10 community partners in association with 15 business advisors, 30 student mentors and seven donors.
The sessions are limited to 12 registrants and will be running with co-sponsor the Centre for Social Innovation at their offices at 585 Dundas Street East on Saturdays from 1- 4 p.m.
In addition to the knowledge and advice on offer, participants can benefit from the sessions, part of BITS’ youth program, in a number of ways, including earning a $500 grant for a convincing business plan presentation before a panel of judges, tuition fees offsets, further training, and becoming a BITS mentor in their own communities.
Those interested can apply, for free,
here.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Veronika Kvon