๐„๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐„๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ž๐ฉ๐ซ๐ž๐ง๐ž๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ: ๐’๐ˆ๐๐” ๐’๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐“๐ซ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ก ๐ข๐ง ๐‹๐š๐ฎ๐ง๐œ๐ก๐ฉ๐š๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐œ๐ก ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ž๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

๐๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐‘๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž

๐Ÿ๐Ÿ• ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ž๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ“

The Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Faculty of Business and Tourism Studies โ€“ School of Tourism and Hospitality successfully concluded the Launchpad Initiative, a program designed to support young entrepreneurs.

The program involved graduating tourism students from SINU, who participated in a comprehensive training covering tourism entrepreneurship, basic financing, branding, and business structure. The initiative culminated in a pitch competition, where students presented their business ideas to a judging panel consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the E-Commerce Implementation Unit, the Prime Ministerโ€™s Office, Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), and the private sector.

The winners of the program were recognized and awarded during the 2025 YECSI Awards Night last week:

  1. Leeray Liosulia โ€“ Proposed a merchandise shop to be established at Bloody Ridge, targeting tourists visiting the historic site. The business is yet to start.
  2. Deffe Bennie โ€“ Developing a bungalow accommodation at Supizai Island, Choiseul, aimed at tourists interested in sea-based activities and other visitors. Construction is currently underway.
  3. Unity Nawo โ€“ Planning to establish the Stream Side Beach Camp, a low-budget accommodation targeting backpackers and young travellers. The camp will be located at Buena vista, Nggela, and is yet to start.
  4. Sharon Bare & Lelunasia Kakadi โ€“ Planning to launch an events planning business that provides support for organising meetings, weddings, birthdays, and similar functions.

Each of the four winning teams received a $40,000 grant to start their own businesses. The program aimed to empower youth and support the growth of new businesses in the Solomon Islands, giving students practical experience in entrepreneurship and business development.

ENDS//