Guyanese entrepreneurs to participate in fellowship programme in US

Three young Guyanese entrepreneurs – Brian Smith, Nakaida Belle-Lindie and Shellon Lynch – have been selected to participate in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Programme in the United States.
The Guyanese who are actively involved in the fields of drone technology, civil construction, and commercial printing were accepted out of over 50 local applicants and over 2000 applicants globally.

The YLAI Programme which was launched in 2015, empowers entrepreneurs, increases trade, and encourages job promotion throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.
It aims to help strengthen the capacity of its participants to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to the social and economic development of their communities.
Smith, the Operations Lead for Dragonfly Drones and Geospatial Solutions, has as his primary goal gaining exposure to industry leader networks and creating alliances for partnerships and collaborations through the initiative.
Belle-Lindie, the Founder and Managing Director of HKBL Construction, aspires to gain knowledge and make connections to help her grow as a successful business owner.
While, Lynch, the Owner and Creative Director of SL Printing and Stationery, aims to enhance her understanding of effective programme management, strategic planning, and communication strategies through the YLAI Programme.
In March, the trio will join 280 other young leaders in the United States for one month and will benefit from professional placements with US businesses in 19 cities.
They will also collaborate with their peers to address shared business challenges, as well as engage in virtual and in-person events and cross-cultural activities.
The 2024 YLAI Fellowship Programme, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, is slated to conclude in April.

YLAI Fellowship Programme
The YLAI Fellowship Programme includes online and in-person coursework, developed by IREX and Arizona State University (ASU), that combines technical entrepreneurship training and leadership development. Using the E-LAP, fellows will set and achieve their entrepreneurial leadership goals.
YLAI Welcome Workshop in the United States: The YLAI team will meet fellows in Houston upon arrival for a four-day welcome meeting. This meeting will be to welcome fellows to the US and give YLAI advisors and fellows the chance to meet and go over logistics, and discuss community guidelines, and programme policies.
YLAI Closing Forum in the United States:?YLAI fellows participate in the?YLAI Closing Forum in Washington, DC, as well as networking events with business and social entrepreneurial leaders, and US Government representatives.
Post-Fellowship Sustained Engagement: After successful completion of the Fellowship, YLAI Fellows continue their collaboration with US partners and have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentorships, networking, and alumni activities. YLAI Fellows will have the chance to?welcome a US host?to their country through the Outbound Exchange Programme, sharing their expertise on the entrepreneurship climate in their country.
As a result of the programme, YLAI Fellows can accelerate their commercial and social ventures’ success and develop specific action plans to implement upon return to their home countries.
The programme also allows them to build networks, linkages, and lasting partnerships to attract investments and support for their entrepreneurial ventures.