The United States Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS recently held a travelling programme focused on entrepreneurship. The programme travelled to Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Barbados, and targeted entrepreneurship students at the tertiary level, and young entrepreneurs.
At each engagement, the film, Generation Startup was screened, and the Embassy was thrilled to have on hand, young American entrepreneur Dextina Booker, one of the women featured in the film. Generation Startup is a feature documentary that captures the struggles and triumphs of Venture for America fellows as they launch startups in Detroit. Shot over the course of 15 months, the film is a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation and economic rejuvenation of Detroit.
In Barbados, the first engagement took place at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic on April 7. The group comprising about a hundred students, who all had a genuine interest in entrepreneurship, engaged in a lively discussion with Booker after watching the film. Booker shared her experiences, and discussed the importance of building networks, and non-traditional sources of funding.
At the second engagement, at which the audience comprised young entrepreneurs, Booker and audience members discussed the importance of a support network when embarking on an entrepreneurial venture.
US Ambassador Linda Taglialatela commented about the programme: “Programmes, such as this one, help us engage our audiences in important discussions on entrepreneurship. At the end of each screening and discussion, our wish is that every audience member leaves with the understanding that entrepreneurship drives economic resources to work efficiently, which positively impacts long-term economic development and growth. The US Embassy is committed to hosting programmes in the Eastern Caribbean which place a greater emphasis on sustainable economic growth leading to prosperous, stable, democratic states.” (PR)
