A new push to grow youth-led economic development across Antigua and Barbuda has launched this week, backed by a EC$38,000 investment from the Sandals Foundation into the Department of Youth Affairs’ flagship Entrepreneurship Edge Programme. The official kickoff was hosted at the island nation’s Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre, marking the second consecutive year of public-private collaboration between the foundation and the youth affairs department to cultivate the next wave of local business leaders, innovators, and founders.
Over the next six weeks, participants will meet twice weekly for interactive training sessions led by veteran industry professionals, successful established entrepreneurs, and specialized subject matter experts. The program is built to serve a diverse group of young people, from current small business owners looking to scale their operations to aspiring entrepreneurs with early-stage ideas they aim to turn into sustainable, revenue-generating ventures. Training modules are designed to equip attendees with hands-on practical skills, long-term strategic planning capabilities, and the confidence required to navigate the complexities of today’s competitive global market, ultimately building businesses that drive broader national economic growth.
David Latchimy, General Manager of Sandals, praised the Department of Youth Affairs for its unwavering focus on youth advancement and for building a targeted platform that directly addresses the common barriers young founders face when launching and scaling new enterprises. He emphasized that the partnership extends far beyond one-time financial investment, representing a shared long-term vision to nurture homegrown entrepreneurial talent, spark a culture of innovation across the country, and give young people the concrete tools to turn their creative concepts into viable, long-lasting businesses.
Dr. Jrucilla Samuel, Director of the Department of Youth Affairs, reiterated her department’s ongoing commitment to embedding entrepreneurship as a core career pathway for Antigua and Barbuda’s young population. “By connecting our participants with proven business leaders and opening access to the critical resources they would otherwise struggle to secure, the Entrepreneurship Edge Programme is helping us build a stronger, more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem across Antigua and Barbuda,” Samuel explained.
As the Caribbean nation increasingly prioritizes entrepreneurship, innovation, and youth empowerment as core drivers of inclusive national development, this cross-sector partnership stands as a model for effective public-private collaboration. It demonstrates how aligned cooperation between government agencies and private philanthropic organizations can create clear, accessible pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the national economy and drive long-term sustainable growth.
The six weeks of intensive training and mentorship will conclude with the Entrepreneurship Edge Expo, a public showcase where all participants will have the opportunity to present their finished business concepts, finished products, and available services to potential investors, customers, and community partners.
Founded in March 2009 to expand on the decades of community-focused philanthropic work led by parent company Sandals Resorts International, the Sandals Foundation is a registered nonprofit charity across multiple major jurisdictions: it holds registration with the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies in Jamaica, is a CRA-registered charity in Canada, operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, and is registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales. The organization draws on more than 40 years of commitment to supporting the Caribbean communities where Sandals Resorts operates, focusing its investment on three core impact areas: education, community development, and environmental stewardship. Critically, 100% of all public donations to the foundation go directly toward community-focused programs across the region, with no administrative deductions taken from public contributions.
The Sandals Foundation says it remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that strengthen Caribbean communities through expanded education opportunities, targeted skills training, leadership development, and broad-based economic empowerment for marginalized groups including young people.