Sri Lanka’s youth entrepreneurship is being promoted providing with the necessary technical know how under UNDP sponsored programme.
UNDP and Citi Foundation join forces to promote youth entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka through its flagship initiative – Youth Co:Lab Technopreneurship for Social Change Programme.
This programme, which is currently in its third year, is supported by the National Youth Services Council and Cisco Systems Inc.
Through tailor made sessions conducted at 20 locations across Sri Lanka targeting over 1000 young people a year, the programme aims to encourage entrepreneurship amongst young people by providing them with the necessary leadership, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.
Recognizing the successes and highlighting some of the entrepreneurs who have kick started their initiatives following their participation of the programme, an event was held recently in Colombo bringing together all partners and young people.
Country Officer for Citi Sri Lanka, Mr. Ravin Basnayake stated “We believe that only by joining forces together with public and private sector, social partners, civil society and beyond can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.”
Ensuring the sustainability of the initiative, the programme is designed in a way where young people can also become peer coaches so more youth will have the opportunity to be a part of this Technopreneurship Programme..”
Young people play a key role in shaping the 2030 development agenda. Hence, engaging with them at a community level is vital if the call for participation, inclusion, accountability and engagement embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved.
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