Implementing the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) South Asia Leadership in Entrepreneurship (SALE) programme in Sri Lanka, which aims to promote and facilitate young people’s transition into the entrepreneurial world and create a shift in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop in order to facilitate the delivery of ILO’s customised entrepreneurship training programmes.

SALE takes a holistic approach to bolstering youth’s entry into this sector  through training, competitions,  mentorship from the private sector, policy dialogues and forums, and advocacy and awareness campaigns to improve wider public image and support to young entrepreneurs, amongst others.

A panel of qualified and experienced trainers, recruited under the SALE programme were trained to effectively deliver customised training on ILO’s Know About Business (KAB) and Start Your Business (SYB) programmes. The training was delivered by expert consultants, at a five-day workshop organised by the Ceylon Chamber as the principal implementing partner of SALE. These programmes aim to inculcate and encourage entrepreneurism among school, vocational training and university students and will initially be conducted in the Galle, Gampaha, Ratnapura and Puttalam districts, with a projected reach of 2,500 students.

The KAB and SYIB modules have been developed with a global focus, to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset amongst youth and as a business planning and start-up training programme aimed at potential Micro, Small and Medium (MSM) entrepreneurs who have developed a feasible business model and are keen to launch it, respectively. Under the SALE programme, these modules have been assessed and enhanced through a rigorous process of inputs from Focus Group discussions and Key Informant interviews with key public and private sector stakeholders, to meet the current requirements of developing an enterprise culture amongst Sri Lanka’s youth.

Through strategic interventions such as these, ILO’s SALE programme, funded by the U.S Department of State is endeavouring to create a shift in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and enhance capacity among the youth to enable them to launch and grow their own business ventures.