Hanover youth business pilot soars

Student entrepreneurs in Hanover, Jamaica, have demonstrated exceptional success in a pilot youth entrepreneurship program, leading stakeholders to consider expanding the initiative across the island. The program, a joint effort by the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Infiniti Cooperative Credit Union, is being hailed as a model for fostering local economic development.

According to Omar Frith, Executive Director of the SDC, the success in Hanover provides a strong case for a nationwide rollout. "Hanover is just the beginning. We're congratulating Team Hanover for really leading this pilot," Frith stated. He added that discussions are underway with Infiniti to expand the program to other parishes, acknowledging the need to tailor the approach to each location's unique circumstances.

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Hanover is just the beginning. We’re congratulating Team Hanover for really leading this pilot. And because of the success in Hanover we have engaged in discussions with Infiniti and we agree that a programme of this magnitude, with the tremendous success we’ve seen here, is worth expanding into other parishes.

Over three months, 30 student entrepreneurs from four Hanover high schools, Rusea’s High School, Green Island High School, Merlene Ottey High School, and Knockalva Technical High School, operated 23 businesses. The initiative began with $230,000 in seed capital, which the students transformed into impressive revenues.

"Today, we are proud to announce that our young entrepreneurs have generated more than $850,000 in revenue, demonstrating that when young people are equipped with the right support, mentorship, and opportunity, they can achieve extraordinary things," said SDC Parish Manager Tova Trench-Anderson. She highlighted the program as a "story of resilience, creativity, and hard work," where students balanced academics with business building, supported by dedicated teachers and mentors.

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Today, we are proud to announce that our young entrepreneurs have generated more than $850,000 in revenue, demonstrating that when young people are equipped with the right support, mentorship, and opportunity, they can achieve extraordinary things.