YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS NETWORK OF ZAMBIA (YENZ)

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1 YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS NETWORK OF ZAMBIA (YENZ) Bridging Pioneers for Sustainable Enterprise & Economic Development.

2 ABOUT YENZ The is a locally-bred and youth-driven youth business association and entrepreneur support network of choice, designed to be a collaborative platform for the promotion and facilitation of sustainable youth enterprise development in Zambia. YENZ was founded in July 2010 by a group of Lusakabased youth entrepreneurs under the visionary leadership of Paul K. Nyambe. YENZ is registered with the National Youth Development Council (NYDC), in accordance with the Act of Parliament No. 7 of 1986 and Cap 144 of the laws of Zambia, and officially started to operate in mid

3 ABOUT YENZ Cont... The association is designed to have a national reach in form of regional and or district chapters, where local entrepreneurs exhibit interest for the organization. YENZ is initially active in the Lusaka urban district of Zambia, which is set be home to the National Entrepreneurs Center (NEC), to serve as the organization s secretariat and resource center. The NEC shall be the national activity hub of the association, and furnished with physical networking space and knowledge development facilities for the membership. 3

4 ABOUT YENZ Cont... Over the time, YENZ has steadily been growing into a formidable business association. The association is as such getting the attention of the government and other players as a key stakeholder on matters relating to youth economic empowerment in Zambia. To this extent, the organization has been an active participant at various national policy and programs development, review and dialogue forums. 4

5 Why YENZ There is power in community. As an entrepreneur, belonging to the right community, a support network of people that are either on the same journey with you, or have been where you intend to go, is an essential factor in sustainable enterprise development. In short, having an appropriate and effective entrepreneurial ecosystem around has a catalytic effect on the life of an entrepreneur. 5

6 Why YENZ Cont... It was therefore based on the understanding of this premise and the eminent absence of a desirable youth enterprise development environment at the time, that the founding entrepreneurs of YENZ were motivated to start this organization. It was necessary to create a community that would have space for youth entrepreneurs in Zambia who traditionally have had no space in the existing entrepreneurial support communities. 6

7 Our Vision YENZ envisions to realize a society characterized by a dynamic and growthoriented entrepreneurial generation, operating in an environment that is responsive to realities of youth enterprise development. 7

8 Our Mission To promote and facilitate for sustainable youth enterprise development in Zambia, through among other strategies: entrepreneur mobilization and networking; entrepreneurial and business knowledge development; and the facilitation of increased access to business financing opportunities for the membership, for enhanced and sustainable social and economic growth of the Zambian youth entrepreneur and the national economy as a whole. 8

9 Our Aim To be an entrepreneur support network of choice, and a collaborative platform for the availing of innovative, practical, appropriate and sustainable solutions to some of the major challenges hindering sustainable youth enterprise development in Zambia. 9

10 Our Objectives (a) Through promoting and facilitating for peer to peer networking among developing and developed entrepreneurs. (b) By mediating and facilitating for increased access to business financing opportunities for the membership. Key Objective To promote and facilitate for sustainable youth enterprise development in Zambia. (c) By fostering business and entrepreneurial knowledge development among the membership. (e) Through being a voice for the membership on matters relating to their common interest. (d) By acting as an in-house information dissemination platform for the membership on matters of common interest. 10

11 Our Values In pursuing our vision, we are individually and collectively guided by the following principles as espoused by our founding entrepreneurs: Ethical and moral values We are committed to individually and collectively uphold exemplary ethical and moral values. Honesty As entrepreneurs, we are committed to be true to ourselves and honest with others in all our undertakings. Reliability As entrepreneurs we are problem solvers and are committed to employ our problem solving skills to provide our stakeholders with effective and reliable services and solutions. Partnership As members of the entrepreneurial community, we value and embrace progressive partnerships amongst ourselves and with others. 11

12 Values Cont... Accountability We are accountable to our communities, environment and stakeholders in all our undertakings. Mentorship We are committed to providing on going mentorship and guidance to those that desire our vocation for the progressive continuity of the entrepreneurial foundation we have laid. Resilience We understand that our journey may not be as smooth, and are as such committed to objectively persevere in the face of uncertainty in our undertakings. Passion We love what we do and are objectively passionate about it, and thus the engine that fuels us. 12

13 Operating Program Areas Mobilization and Networking The endeavors to continuously provide tailored business matching and networking services and facilities for its membership. The organization seeks to accomplish this through the strategic organizing and hosting of networking events, as well as through the creation of physical networking space and infrastructure that foster practical and sustainable networking and engagements among its membership. Our aim with this program area is to foster peer to peer networking and partnerships among early stage, developing and developed entrepreneurs, as a first line business challenge alleviation strategy. 13

14 Operating Program Areas Cont... Finance Mediation and Facilitation The is committed to relentlessly work toward ensuring increased access to business financing opportunities for the membership. The organization seeks to accomplish this through its own strategically designed in-house financing programs, as well as mediating for tailored financial services and products through pursuing strategic collaborations and partnerships with relevant stakeholders that may include commercial banks, local and international development financial institutions, venture capital firms, the Government and other organizations and persons that share our vision. Our aim with this program area is to ensure increased access to tailored financial services to the membership for sustainable enterprise development. 14

15 Operating Program Areas Cont... Business and Entrepreneurial Knowledge Development The seeks to continuously foster business and entrepreneurial knowledge development among the membership. The network endeavors to accomplish this through its own strategically designed in-house business development services and facilities, as well as through strategic collaborations and partnerships with relevant local and or international business development services providers. Our aim with this program area is to continuously equip the membership with the relevant business and entrepreneurial knowledge, so as to enhance chances of business success. 15

16 Operating Program Areas Cont... Trade Policy Dialogue and Advocacy The is committed to actively participate in various and relevant local, regional and global trade, business and or economic policy formulation and dialogue platforms and related business and economic development forums that may be in the collective interest of the membership. The organization shall also from time to time issue statements or give its view or views on trade, business or economic matters that are in the common interest of the membership. Our aim with this program area is to act as a collective voice for the membership in seeking to direct or influence policy direction on matters of common interest, both in the public policy settings and or private sector service delivery settings respectively. 16

17 Operating Program Areas Cont... Business Information Dissemination The is committed to strategically make available for its membership relevant information such as relating to prevailing business regulations, obligations, opportunity and any other information deemed vital for the attention of its membership. The association seeks to accomplish this through its continuous strategic engagements and partnerships with relevant information sources and the use of both digital and physical platforms. Our aim with this program area is to be an in-house information dissemination platform for the membership on matters bordering on their common interest, so as to ensure informed and effective business decision making. 17

18 Membership Eligibility Membership in the is voluntary and open to all growth-oriented entrepreneurs male or female, below 40 years old in age, and engaged in the planning and/or development of their own business in any legally allowed business sector in Zambia. Prospective members and their businesses can be at any stage of development in their business, and of any educational background. However, we do encourage our members and those intending to join us to continuously develop an internally-driven desire to learn and grow, be organized in their entrepreneurial pursuits and endeavor to formalize their ventures. 18

19 Membership Cont... Benefits and Obligations Our overall objective for congregating in this Network is to collectively foster sustainable enterprise development among the membership, through various programs and services that are designed and implemented from time to time. Therefore, membership in the organization guarantees access to these member programs and services that are strategically designed to promote and facilitate sustainable enterprise development among the membership. Members as the primary owners and beneficiaries of the association, also enjoy the privilege of determining the policy direction and running of the organization, as per the provisions of our constitution. The membership is also obliged to observe the highest ethical and moral code in their undertakings, in line with the organization s code of ethics, principles and values, and never to use the name of the organization for unintended or unlawful purposes. Members are further obliged to observe timely settlement of membership fees and any such other membership related obligations. 19

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