Youth Entrepreneurs’ Park: many hands make light work

Burundian youth come across many problems related to unemployment and lack of fund. These issues have pushed some Burundian youth to stand together for praiseworthy solutions – By Diane Uwimana

Emile Uwezowamungu: “Most graduates from Universities do not have access to job easily. Then, we want to put our ideas together and make much effort for creating our own jobs.”©Iwacu

Citizens’ Will Motivated by the Spirit of Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship Volcan –Jeunesse is a NGO which has set up a project, Youth Entrepreneurs’ Park “PJE” to help youth create their own job and prevent unemployment. “Promoting entrepreneurship to youth is our main worry and objective,” says Emile Uwezowamungu, the Coordinator of the project. He indicates that in the country, the lack of employment is a major challenge encountered by youth. “Most graduates from Universities do not have access to jobs easily. Then, we want to put our ideas together and make much effort for creating our own jobs,” he mentions.
Uwezowamungu reminds that this network or association began in 2010 with only six students, but today, they are about 25 who got training on business planning at Burundi Business Incubator (BBIN) and in return, they trained some of their fellows. “Out of 25 students, 12 have succeeded to elaborate their business plan,” thanks the Coordinator. “In our park, we have some activities which are in progress: building, supplying diverse furniture, making audit and accounting in different local companies, business plan, teaching ICT … We are also thinking about other activities to carry out in our park,” clarifies Uwezowamungu. The park, he mentions, comes to support youth to have a sense or spirit of unity, collaboration and sharing experience among them: “In less than one year, about 100 jobs have been created.”
However, even if they put together their ideas and strengths, they face some problems. “The lack of Financial Assistance remains a big challenge. We try to do our best by working hard but we need support, » points out Uwezowamungu. According to him, it is not easy to run a company, but together nothing is impossible. “Youth constitute the highest rate of the population in the country. So, it is important and necessary to be united for creating a good generation. Our education system is elaborated for bureaucratic people but not entrepreneurs. If we compete with other EAC neighbours, we often lag behind others,” remarks Uwezowamungu. “Volcan-Jeunesse” wants to extend this project in other provinces particularly in Muyinga and Bururi, in order to wake up the youth’s spirit of entrepreneurship. “Young Burundian graduates from different Universities and Higher Institutes of the country have many potentialities. If we put them together with a strong spirit of entrepreneurship, we will change the situation and create a new generation without unemployment”, concludes the coordinator of the project.
Emile Uwezowamungu is a young graduate from the University of Burundi in the Department of Higher Technology “ITS” in the Civil Engineering Section. He created “CASTEC”, a Construction Technical Services Architecture Centre while he was a student in 2009. At present, he employs about 300 workers. Thanks to the BBIN training, he trains others using CASTEC background experience.