The Young Americas Business Trust Haiti (YABT Haiti) will host a Business Labs in Port-au-Prince in an effort to train young entrepreneurs in the Business Labs Methodology. The initiative is a coordinated activity of the YABT and the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) of Haifa, Israel.

The Business Labs methodology teaches practical business skills through "hands-on" experience to encourage the creation and sustainability of new businesses. The program was created by the YABT in cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS), MCTC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel (MASHAV).

The intensive course will take place at the "Chambre Franco Haitienne de Commerce et d´Industrie (CFHCI)", from July 20th to 24th, 2009, and will be attended by thirty participants, mostly university and technical school professors and Haitian entrepreneurs who have already started a successful enterprise. Participants will then be expected to replicate the program throughout the country to foster the development of young Haitian entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses. Business Lab modules include: management leadership, business plan development, costing and pricing, the structure of the local and regional market, among others.

The Business Laboratories have been developed in 29 of the 34 OAS Member States and thousands of young people have been trained using this methodology. Cooperative efforts from the private sector, the educational community, and national and local governments make this program a reality and help to enhance economic development through its provisions.

The YABT is a nonprofit international organization that works in cooperation with the Organization of the American States (OAS) to promote the development of young entrepreneurs through its programs and projects in the areas of Leadership and Networking, Training, Technology and Strategic Alliances. YABT relies on financial contributions and technical cooperation from both the public and private sectors to support its international programs and to offer national training and related services. For more information please visit our website www.ybiz.net

The Business Labs program, funded by the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) at the OAS, is a component of the Nex Links project to provide training and follow up services to young entrepreneurs in the OAS Member States.

If you want to participate, please contact: Richard Mears or Jimmy Bruce – YABT Haiti. Phone: 215-355-2746, 011-509-3732-9521 E-mail: rich.mears@crossworld.org, jbruce005@gmail.com or Brett Lashley – Program Manager for the Caribbean, YABT, blashley@oas.org, + 1 202-458-3290.