NEW DELHI: The International Youth Foundation (IYF), together with MasterCard Worldwide and the Community Collective Society for Integrated Development (CCFID), has announced the launch of Young Entrepreneurs, a program designed to address the urgent need to increase support for youth entrepreneurs in India.
Each year, as many as 12 million young people in India enter the labor market seeking jobs that can support themselves and their families. However, the Indian economy only creates about one million new jobs in the formal sector every year.
The Young Entrepreneurs initiative responds directly to these challenges. The two-year initiative will provide 700 youth ages 15 to 29 with multi-faceted support to launch or grow their own small enterprises. The program, whichoperates in Delhi and Mumbai, will include business and life skills training, access to financial capital through a revolving loan fund, ongoing technical assistance and links to mentors in the business community.
“Thanks to this new partnership with MasterCard Worldwide, we can help hundreds of emerging young entrepreneurs start their own businesses, and in many cases provide much needed jobs in the community,” says William S. Reese, President and CEO of the International Youth Foundation. “When we invest in our young people, we get in return a more productive and flourishing society.”
“We are pleased to workwith the International Youth Foundation and CCFID to help hundreds of youth in India realize their economic potential as entrepreneurs,” adds Mr. TV Seshadri, General Manager of South Asia and Country President, India, MasterCard Worldwide. “We believe that by supporting entrepreneurship, they are helping individuals overcome barriers to financial inclusion and ultimately achieve positive economic outcomes for themselves, their families and their communities. Through its core competencies, technology, people and charitable giving, they make a difference in people’s lives around the world.”
Top corporate, government, and NGO leaders will participate, including Mr. TV Seshadri, General Manager of South Asia and Country President, India, MasterCard Worldwide; Patricia Devereux, Group Head, Corporate Philanthropy and Citizenship, MasterCard Worldwide; and top representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, IYF, and CCFID.
A panel discussion comprised of youth beneficiaries and implementing partners including vocational training centers will explore India’s urgent need to expand support for youth entrepreneurship and report on initial successes of the Young Entrepreneurs program.
International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential ofyoung people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community ofbusinesses, governments, and civil-society organizations committed to empoweringyouth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts ofchange that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills,make healthy choices, and improve their communities.
Community Collective Society for Integrated Development (CCFID)
Community Collective Society for Integrated Development (CCFID) is a livelihood promotion organization, working to promotes diverse sustainable livelihood opportunities and facilitates their access to financial resources to build up local economy, reduce unemployment and develop community level institutions for decision making.
Founded in 2004, CCFID has been involved with young people through- employability skills, entrepreneurship support for the underprivileged, emergency response and preparedness- disaster management, community based natural resource management, life skills, financial inclusion and research.
MasterCard
MasterCard is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.
International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) and the Community Collective Society for Integrated Development (CCFID), in partnership with MasterCard Worldwide, are working together to implement Young Entrepreneurs, a two-year initiative to increase support for youth entrepreneurship in India. Operating in Delhi and Mumbai, the program will provide 700 youth ages 15 to 29 with multi-faceted services to help launch or expand their small businesses. Among other activities, Young Entrepreneurs will offer participants business and life skills training, access to financial capital through a revolving loan fund, ongoing technical assistance and links to mentors in the business community.
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