An innovative non-residential boot camp designed to equip teenagers with vital life skills and foster personal development is ending today in Accra Friday, August 18, 2023.
This annual boot camp aims to empower young individuals with the necessary tools and mindset to navigate the challenges of adolescence, and the dilemma of choosing career paths and preparing them for a successful future.
TEENpreneurship is an initiative of the Springboard Road Show Foundation led by Albert and Comfort Ocran. The non-residential boot camp seeks to help young people between the ages of 12 and 17 with entrepreneurial training.
The week-long programme, which commenced on Monday, August 14, 2023 at the Osu Ebenezer Presby Hall, was focused on mentoring, career guidance, personal development, and equipping young minds with essential skills and knowledge needed to guide their career path, and also helping them thrive in the entrepreneurial world.
The participants were equipped with skills in coding and robotics, fashion and agribusiness.
In an opening remark, Executive Director of Springboard Roadshow Foundation, Comfort Ocran, said the programme will focus on equipping young teens with industrial and technical skills. She also emphasised the importance of personal development.
She said participants will have the opportunity to network with their peers and enhance their communication, problem-solving and teamwork abilities through the interactive workshops and team-building activities, stressing that these skills are vital for success in any entrepreneurial endeavour.
“The focus is not only on learning, but it also introduces fun activities, network sessions and building communities while engaging in different entrepreneurial fields. This helps to shape their minds for the kind of career path they would like to embark on,” she said.
She said: “Esteemed experts and professionals in each field have been enlisted as mentors, ready to guide and inspire the young participants throughout the programme.
This has helped some of our previous alumni discover who they truly are and what they want to become. What I have realised is that people who come to the TEENpreneuship discover at the end of the programme that the world is what they create, and that is the corporative world that we create”.
TEENpreneurship 2023 is in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and Lyme Haus under the Ghana Grows Programme.
The Ghana Grows Programme is a three-year, multifaceted series of interventions designed to encourage young people between the ages of 15 and 35, particularly women and youth with disabilities, to explore opportunities and consciously pursue careers in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural TVET (ATVET) and related fields.
With this in focus, young people who attended have been encouraged to use the skills acquired in AI and Robotics, for instance, to solve problems in the agribusiness space.
Seizing opportunities
Parents and guardians who brought in their wards on the first day expressed their excitement about the programme. To them, this is the right opportunity needed by their wards. Ama Mensah, a parent of one of the attendees, said: “I believe the TEENPreneurship Bootcamp will be a life-changing experience for my child. It’s an incredible opportunity for them to explore their interests, learn from industry experts, and gain valuable insights into entrepreneurship. I am confident that this programme will empower them to become future leaders”.
On his part, Kwame Owusu, who expressed his confidence in the bootcamp, said: “I have seen the positive impact of their programmes in the past, and I have no doubt that the TEENPreneurship Bootcamp will be equally beneficial. It’s essential for young minds to be exposed to different industries and develop an entrepreneurial mindset; and I am grateful for this opportunity for my child,” he said.
Expectations
For many participants, the TEENPreneurship Bootcamp represents a chance to explore their interests and discover new passions. Jessicah Mensah, a participant, expressed her anticipation, saying: “I am looking forward to learning more about Robotics and ICT so I can learn how to code and create apps. This bootcamp will expose me to other fields, such as fashion and agribusiness”.
Participants also expressed their eagerness to learn from industry experts and mentors. Nhyira Owusu, a participant, shared his expectations, saying: “I love fashion a lot and I hope to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge from the professionals who will be mentoring us. Their experiences and guidance will help me understand what it takes to succeed in that field”.
