By Roberto Artur Manuel (YES 2015-2016, Mozambique, placed by CIEE in Loganville, GA)

I am beyond thrilled to write about the second edition of our transformative YES Alumni Grant project, Entrepreneurship as a Way of Living. In collaboration with fellow alumni Nilza Abade ’18, Izandra Carlos ’20, and Mariamo Omar ’22, as well as our dedicated volunteers, it has been a journey of passion and purpose. Our mission was to address a critical issue in our community of Beira – the high youth unemployment rate – by giving youth the knowledge and skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs, thereby shaping a brighter future for themselves and our community.

Leveraging what I learned during my participation in the YES Alumni Training of Trainers in Giza, Egypt, in September 2018, we launched this project in 2020. The first edition of Entrepreneurship as a Way of Living engaged 20 enthusiastic students. As we prepared for the second edition, our goal was to expand our reach by doubling the size of our first workshop. I am delighted to report that we not only reached our goal but exceeded it with an incredible turnout of 46 participants.

The essence of our project remained the same – instilling an entrepreneurial mindset, providing business knowledge, and nurturing professional skills that go beyond just starting a business. With an additional 46 passionate minds added to our network, we are cultivating young change-makers who are ready to create a positive ripple effect in our community.

Our long-term vision for this project is to establish a sustainable platform for supporting young entrepreneurs in Beira. We plan to remain connected with the participants, providing ongoing support and mentorship as they continue their journey. We are excited for the potential multiplier effect, where these empowered individuals will not just generate opportunities for themselves but also motivate others to follow in their footsteps.

Our heartfelt thanks to our partner organizations for their unwavering commitment, which was instrumental in shaping the project's success. I am immensely grateful for the support of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, for funding our project. I would also like to extend my deep appreciation to our project team, dedicated volunteers, insightful speakers, and inspiring participants, who collectively contributed to the remarkable success of this initiative.

Nilza Abade (YES 2017-2018, Mozambique, placed by American Councils in Davenport, IA)
Izandra Carlos (YES 2019-2020, Mozambique, placed by CIEE in Pinckney, MI)
Mariamo Omar (YES 2021-2022, Mozambique, placed by CIEE in Oshkosh, WI)