21st Century learning and youth social entrepreneurship

This Multi-stakeholder Partnership builds on the outcomes of the SIDS Pre-Conference T.A.L.A.V.O.U Forum where youth entrepreneurship is prioritised to address youth unemployment and contribute to sustainable development. It also builds on the S.A.M.O.A Pathway, in particular the reference on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, building capacity and increasing the competitiveness and social entrepreneurship of micro, small and medium sized enterprises in small island developing states, as well as encouraging inclusive sustainable development with the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities. The objective of the High Tech Youth Network is connecting, training and creating cyber learning pathways, higher learning and industry credentials and digital entrepreneurship for young people. The core modality is through an aggregation of small island developing states willing to participate in connecting youth to a digitally focused learning community that is directly linked to the high tech sector and global broadband economy.Our Partnership recognizes that young people are early adopters of technology and this is an asset we ought to build on, to nurture new innovative economic opportunities. This new initiative will take our work on youth entrepreneurship to another level, and will further assist our young people realise their potential, help reduce unemployment, and provide another avenue to allow our youth to lead sustainable development in Samoa, in the Pacific and across small island developing states. The main objectives of this partnership are to address youth unemployment by focusing on youth entrepreneurship, providing training, supporting mentoring and small business development for youth. This will be coordinated through the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development in partnership with our existing networks that is the Village representatives, government women representatives and youth networks through the National Youth Council and faith-based organisations. The following are key deliverables anticipate achieving during and at the end of this partnership:1) To conduct High Tech focused training for young entrepreneurs to further support their small business initiatives.2) To establish youth entrepreneurship focused mentoring programme through the use of High Tech to connect 100 entrepreneurs and potential mentors.3) To conduct work attachments and capacity building for Ministry staff.