Youth get a boost to their business careers

Page 10

In early May more than 200 Aboriginal youth from different regions of Canada will participate in a national Aboriginal youth business competition called E-spirit. Naomi Sayers is one of the many who will participate this year.

Sayers, 17, who lives on the Garden River First Nation reserve, said she learned a lot from the online business strategy last year.

Her goal is to further her education in business and entrepreneurship. Sayers is currently in Grade 11 and plans to study business administration when she gets to college.

E-spirit, launched in May 2001, is sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada. It is designed to increase Aboriginal youth awareness of entrepreneurial business opportunities and management business skills. Competing students have to complete a full business plan, along with a video, to promote their venture.

This year the competition will be held in Prince George.

"It is designed to assist students in high school and gives them time to make informed choices about their education and career plans," explained E-spirit co-ordinator Bernadette Harrison.

Last year Sayers was the silver prize winner of the competition, held in Halifax, N.S. Her mock business venture was called Etcetera Event Planning, a proposal to design and co-ordinate events in her community.

"My business plan almost didn't meet the deadline. I was worried I wouldn't even get to go to the gathering. I realized, when I won, I am good at something," she said.

Growing up on a reserve, most youths face obstacles to education and career choices, Sayers said. She has taken on various roles in her community including getting involved with youth leadership conferences and co-operative education.

"I entered the co-op education program at my high school and I saw there was no small business selection on the list of occupations.

"I was kind of on a path with nowhere to go in my post-secondary education. Even if I didn't win, I think at one point or another I would've realized business was for me."

Harrison said, "The competition is not intended to be looked upon as an extra subject. We don't want to interfere with the completion of students' Grade 12. E-spirit is very much an extracurricular activity that gives additional opportunity to career choices."

Sayers' mother and aunt play important roles in her life. She said she looks up to them as strong First Nation women. She added that to become a strong First Nation woman one needs to have a healthy mind.

"Do something healthy for the mind, help others. Once your mind is healthy, your physical being instantaneously becomes healthy too."

Every year the E-spirit competition launches in December and wraps up in April. Prizes are awarded in May.

This year Sayers is competing with a totally new business venture, the details of which she is keeping under wraps.