| Young Americas Business Trust The talents and prospects of young entrepreneurs of the Americas and the Caribbean today will determine the Hemisphere's potential for future economic growth and democratic stability. Enterprising, energetic young people offer the best opportunity for building the Americas of all our dreams. Reality reminds us, however, that only investment today will enable us to build this tomorrow. This Young Americas Business Trust – itself a young startup initiative - combines the energy of talented young people, as staff and representatives, with the experience and prestige of the Organization of American States, an international organization of the thirty-four countries of the Americas. The most gratifying response to our work has come from young entrepreneurs and professionals, including interns and staff, from all across the Hemisphere. Their enthusiastic and unselfish contributions of time, talent, and money to support this cause shows its value give us much encouragement. In working with them, our respect for young entrepreneurs grows - young people who have the courage to make a start - whether in Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Barbados, or the countless small towns of the Americas. But our progress thus far has only begun to tap the potential for our organization. We are proud of our accomplishments in making a solid start – to have dreamed like young entrepreneurs: with faith, facing and overcoming many challenges, achieving much "on a shoestring." The challenges have only strengthened our determination to move ahead. In this, we truly value our friends and supporters and sincerely thank the people - both young in age and young in spirit - who are a part of this effort and make it possible. We go forward with the hope that other donors, good corporate citizens, and foundations will offer their financial support to enable the Young Americas Business Trust reach more young people, creating the productive enterprises that benefit everyone. His Excellency Dr. Denis G. Antoine Roy L. Thomasson Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer
Priorities from the Presidential Summits of the Americas In the Declaration of the Second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile, the Presidents acknowledged "education as the determining factor for the political, social, cultural, and economic development of our peoples" and that "overcoming poverty continues to be the greatest challenge confronted by our Hemisphere." The Member States of Organization of American States (OAS), in the Plan of Action from the Summit, pledged to "strengthen preparation, education, and training for the world of work so that an increasing number of workers can improve their standard of living … and to enhance employability prospects, take into account the development of entrepreneur skills." To address these challenges the Presidents recognized the "importance and positive role played by hemispheric institutions, particularly the Organization of American States (OAS), and committed themselves to strengthen and modernize these institutions." These priorities set for the OAS and other international financial institutions following the Second Presidential Summit of the Americas and other high level Ministerial meetings led to the creation of the Young Americas Business Trust, a mechanism to further the goals of the Summit. The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) has as its mission to address critical issues of poverty and unemployment among young people – issues that affect the development potential and progress as well as the social stability of all the nations of the Americas and the Caribbean and remain high priorities of all OAS Member States. Additionally, during the 2000 Third Presidential Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Canada, a consensus emerged highlighting the fact that democratic, economic, and social development are "interdependent and mutually reinforcing as fundamental conditions to combat poverty and inequality." In particular, the Presidents recognized that, "increasing access to opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship, productivity and employment among young people" are essential in solving the dilemma of persistent poverty and lack of congruity between formal education and the market.
Purpose The Young Americas Business Trust promotes social and economic development in the Western Hemisphere and elsewhere through programs, projects, and activities focused on: helping to create and advance efforts to improve the quality of life of youth and young adults, especially those living in or near poverty. In so doing, it will: A. Help create opportunities for the employment of youth and young adults through entrepreneurship, enterprise creation, formal and non-formal training, application of technology, and the expansion of existing enterprises operated by young adults. B. Foster greater awareness among governments, the private sector, and the public, of the contribution that youth entrepreneurship can make to economic growth, social equity, job creation, and poverty alleviation, C. Formulate strategic plans to help encourage and accelerate entrepreneurial development at the community, national, and international, levels; including assisting new and existing organizations to plan and carry out entrepreneurial development and related employment skills training programs for young people; D. Support the development of effective programs to foster youth entrepreneurship, particularly those carried out by the private sector by serving as a resource for: innovation; exchange of information and expertise; organizational linkages; and collaboration among those individuals, organizations, and entities which are working to strengthen youth entrepreneurship in the western hemisphere and elsewhere. E. Increase entrepreneurship among young people through support of programs aimed at their: personal development; business and entrepreneurial education; employment and technical skills training; and accessing of technological and financial resources, including primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, and community-based programs; F. Collaborate with governmental and private sector organizations and entities to increase technical and financial assistance to support entrepreneurial development and employment skills training initiatives, particularly those aimed at young people living in or near poverty; G. Solicit, manage, and provide funds, services, contributions, and in-kind contributions to all these purposes from public and private entities.
Board of Directors The YABT operates at OAS Headquarters in Washington DC under a General Cooperation Agreement signed by the Secretary General of the OAS and the Chair of the YABT Board of Directors. | 
