Since its launch the youth for the future program has been fighting to gain legitimacy. Some have cast it aside as a political gimmick while in the judgement of other doubters, the youths the program serves are beyond reform.
But looking past the cynics and skeptics, Youth for the Future has been maintaining in its mission. Today the group called the media out for an update on what they have been up to.
The Youth for the Future initiative summoned representatives from government including a junior cabinet minister, the police commissioner, and the media for a report card on its enterprise unit. The unit's director Sandra Bradshaw spelled out its success.
Sandra Bradshaw, Enterprise Unit Coordinator
"As with any organization, you look back and you assess and you have to be honest with yourself. No, we are not satisfied because a number of them who came may have abused the system. That's on their part. I think on the part of Youth for the Future a proper system was not in place. As it takes time to develop, you learn from your mistakes which hopefully we have now."
But the news wasn't all-bad, some youths have taken their loans and made good on it. Today the success stories were on display like a security company formed by youths, a budding computer graphics entrepreneur, and then there was that of woodcarver Adolfo Mendez.
Adolfo Mendez, Youth Entrepreneur
"Right now I am trying to organize a workshop up in the village. It's in Santana on the old Northern Road and that's where a lot of the carvings came from. As you can see I have some nice walking canes and some other masterpieces. I have a teacher up in the village and other guys should really spend time so they can learn to do different types of work and be as unique as possible."
Q: _What's the secret to your success if there's any?
Adolfo Mendez,
"Well my main point with that is that you have to be focused and have a wise plan so that whenever you bring it to the people and show them, they will see that it is a positive vibe you are dealing with."
So what's next for the enterprise unit? Well Bradshaw says they will continue to disburse loans but more than just handing out checks, they will follow up
Sandra Bradshaw,
"I don't want us to be perceived as just an organization that gives out loans. We are much more than that. I mentioned that there is the educational process where we provide training. There is the entrepreneurial aspect and then remember there is also the employment aspect."
Since its launch the enterprise program has granted 56 loans.