Development Bank of Jamaica

The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has announced that students with disabilities are eligible to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Programme (YEP), the social safety net initiative announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding in his 2009/10 Budget Presentation and which is aimed at ensuring that young school leavers as at June 2009 see self- employment as an option for employment.

“We recognise that young persons with disAbilities who are leaving school will face extra challenges as unemployment is significantly higher for persons in this community.  When advocates approached us and indicated that there must be a clear allocation and focus for school leavers with physical and mental
disabilities, we immediately agreed to ensure that three percent of the $200 million should be reserved for this group,” Milverton Reynolds, Managing Director of the Development Bank of Jamaica, said.

On Tuesday, June 24, members of the graduating class of the Abilities Foundation located on Constant Spring Road in Kingston had their YEP orientation session.  During an interactive period, the students shared
their business ideas with the facilitator. When asked what they would do with J$50,000, without exception they all indicated that they would want to start a business, or do additional training to get a job. 

Their business ideas ranged from health juice operations, a landscape business where they could work together, or in-home child care. And, there was one graduate who saw it as an opportunity to establish his popular jerk chicken efforts.

The graduates were clearly excited by the opportunities which YEP presents for them.  As a follow up, there will be specially held workshops for persons in this cohort, where business counselors will work with those who wish to access funding from YEP.

Principal of Abilities Foundation, Ms Grace Taylor, commended the DBJ and the Government of Jamaica for the initiative and expressed her appreciation on behalf of the students.  “We have a group of talented students who are committed and want to help themselves and their families,” she stated.

This was the second orientation with focus on the community of persons with disabilities.   On June 17th a session was held for graduates from the School of Hope and the Lister Mair Gilby for the deaf.

YEP is a social safety initiative that was announced by the Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding in his 2009/10 Budget Presentation.  The Programme is being spearheaded by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), which will provide some $200 million in funds to be on-lent through Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to borrowers for viable business projects, at a rate of 10%.

Orientation sessions continue across the island for high schools and tertiary students, leaving school this year.  For further information please contact the YEP Help Desk at 929-4015-7 or via email at yep@dbankjm.com