Giving Cabo Verde’s young entrepreneurs a head start

The Entrepreneurship Curriculum Programme combines theory and practice, emphasizing a hands-on approach to learning activities such as marketing a product in a school community; learning from local entrepreneurs through school visits; and preparing business venture plans.

Mario Fernandes, the head teacher of Conde Jacinto, one of the schools taking part, said, “After we introduced this programme, we noticed that the pupils’ attitudes changed. They began to be more pro-active in the classroom and they became more ambitious. Even in their personal lives they began to be more organized and they began to see opportunities in areas they previously thought were difficult to deal with. They realized that, with the right attitudes, these things could actually become easier.”

The programme is backed by a range of sponsors from the public and private sectors,  and is tailored to the national context. Topics include entrepreneurship in the context of the country, business ethics and innovation.

Denise Santos, CEO of the Bank Caixa Economica, one of Cabo Verde’s leading banks and one of the programme backers, praises the partnership concluded in order to boost entrepreneurship and develop the country’s private sector. “Our bank, through this partnership, has been supporting the teaching and learning, and facilitating graduates’ access to financial services”.

Another programme graduate, Paulo Jorge Gomes, launched a business of buying and selling fish between the islands of Cabo Verde. He says the ECP gave him “new competencies and skills, such as learning to reflect before doing anything, planning, setting goals and priorities”.

Since he started his project, he says persistence has been his watchword. 

“The entrepreneurship programme helped me develop this business idea, and because of it, I managed to get financing from the Ministry of Youth to found my first venture. This made me feel like a young person who is preparing for a better future.”