Generation Enterprise

Co-Creating Businesses to Raise Slum Youth Out of Poverty

Fast Facts

Location:

Nigeria, India

Sponsored by:

Connie McCann and Kevin O’Donohue

Grant Years:

2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Category:

Job Creation

Website:

How Generation Enterprise Made a Difference

Generation Enterprise provided training, mentoring and funding for at-risk youth in slum communities and partnered with them to co-create and build sustainable businesses that developed skills, jobs and wealth.

The Work of Generation Enterprise

  • Screened and recruited vulnerable youth in Nigeria’s urban slums and engaged them in micro-enterprise incubators.
  • Used their “SkillNav” software and a structured business curriculum to train youth in entrepreneurship and business management.
  • Launched business ventures (cleaning services, retail) co-owned by youth participants which provided real on-the-job experience and revenue sharing.
  • Built a business model ready for geographic expansion and for replication into other business verticals.
  • Monitored outcomes of both business survival and youth employment to inform future growth and investor readiness.
  • No longer active.

Initiatives Supported by Project Redwood

2014:  $20,000 to hire mentors and provide seed capital.

2016:  $25,000 for seed capital and to fund a management and entrepreneurship academy.

2017:  $25,000 for counselors and trainers.

2018:  $25,000 for counselors and trainers and to adapt skill-assessment software for rollout.