“What would happen if you took master educators, life-changing curriculum, nearly 30 teenagers, and an international entrepreneurial organization and placed them in a room in Jamaica for 2 days? Magic!” – Chris Cochran, Executive Director of Entrepreneurs Across Borders, Inc.

In summer 2024, BizWorld embarked on an exciting new journey with our first-ever camp in the Caribbean, in Kingston the capital city of Jamaica. Brought to life through a partnership with Entrepreneurs Across Borders (EAB), this camp was more than just a learning experience—it was an adventure that blended entrepreneurship with local culture in a way that deeply resonated with the students.

When EAB first reached out to us, what began as a simple conversation quickly blossomed into a fully-funded pilot program. Together, we aimed to teach business fundamentals to the next generation of Jamaican youth in a vibrant, hands-on environment. EAB’s mission to bring entrepreneurship education to developing countries aligns perfectly with BizWorld’s goals, and while the focus is currently on Jamaica, the potential for expansion into other parts of the Caribbean and Latin America is clear.

We like how Chris Cochran said it himself, “The BizWorld Curriculum should be taught to every single entrepreneur around the world, especially to students.”

For me (Patricia Solis, Operations Manager at BizWorld) this camp has been one of the most rewarding experiences while working with youth in BizWorld. Jamaica is a country driven by entrepreneurship, and many of the students at the camp have already had firsthand experience with entrepreneurship, either through their own small businesses or through their families.

This camp took place during the school break, so some students initially expressed frustration about being encouraged by their parents to attend an academic camp during a time they felt should be reserved for fun. However, others (dare we say the majority) were curious, motivated, and excited.

At the registration table on day one, a young woman boldly shared, “I don’t want to be here…It’s summer. I should be home sleeping until 1:30 pm and eating all day.”

We watched as this young woman pretended that she would rather be anywhere else.  But as she stepped up to masterfully pitch her company, she involved herself deeply in the product development, and squealed with laughter as she counted her company’s profits. As she was leaving the camp, she said, “Ok, I’ll admit I had fun.”

As the camp began, I quickly noticed smiles, teamwork, and a strong desire to learn through practical application of business concepts. Gradually, the students embraced the entrepreneurial mindset, and by the end of the first day, we could already see the formation of new friendships. For at least 50% of the participants, this was their first experience working together as a team. They collaborated harmoniously, identified each other’s strengths, solved problems, and created innovative products.

By the second day, all the students were fully engaged, working hard, having fun, and learning together. Their financial management skills were impressive, as they progressed from securing seed funding, and selling in the BizWorld Bazaar to valuing their companies.

One young woman was the CEO of her team. She was not timid, but a quiet leader who you could tell had little experience leading large groups. Over the two days, I watched as she coordinated her team with ease, pitched for VC capital, and led with a quiet confidence that was impressive. At the end of day two, I walked up to her and said, “I have been watching you work as the CEO over the past two days. If you continue to believe in yourself, use your superpowers, and find opportunities to lead, you will be a great CEO someday.”

With tears in her eyes, she asked if I could take a selfie video with her and say that again. I said, “Of course…but why?”

Her response nearly brought tears to my eyes. She said, “Because my mom will never believe that someone said this about me.”

Needless to say, this was an unforgettable experience for the staff and students alike. The life-changing potential of entrepreneurship knows no boundaries.

As we saw in Jamaica, when young minds are nurtured with the right tools and encouragement, they can create something truly magical.