Page 15 - ARUBA TODAY

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LOCAL Wednesday 28 February 2018

Young Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Apply for the Young

Leaders of the Americas Initiative

CURACAO - Residents from and innovative civil society young business and social
Curacao, Aruba, and Sint leaders to strengthen their entrepreneurs from Latin
Maarten are eligible to par- capacity to launch and America and the Carib-
ticipate in the Young Lead- advance entrepreneurial bean to the U.S. in Septem-
ers of the Americas Initiative ideas and effectively con- ber and October 2018 for a
(YLAI) and are encouraged tribute to social and eco- five-week fellowship which
to apply. In 2016 and 2017, nomic development. will include an opening
a total of four young en- program; an individualized
trepreneurs from Curacao, Sponsored by the U.S. De- Fellowship program with
three from Aruba, and one partment of State and counterpart companies or
from Sint Maarten partici- implemented by Merid- organizations throughout
pated in the program that ian International Center, the U.S.; and a closing fo-
empowers entrepreneurs the initiative will bring 250 rum in Washington, D.C.

This professional fellowship ment opportunities.
will take place at universi- This fully-funded fellowship
ties, incubators, and non- is open to entrepreneurs
governmental organiza- between the ages of 25
tions across the U.S., while and 35 with at least two
follow-on exchanges will years of experience as an
send Americans to Latin entrepreneur in their own
America and the Caribbe- business or social venture
an to continue the collabo- as well as citizenship and
ration. Participants will ben- residency in Aruba, Cura-
efit from interaction with cao, or Sint Maarten. They
entrepreneurship experts, should be proficient in Eng-
participation in skill building lish. The application is avail-
workshops, and ongoing able at https://ylai.state.
support through network- gov and is open through
ing, mentorship, and invest- March 4.q