02 Jun A Look Back at AYEP Cohort 3
The Atlantic Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (AYEP) continues to be a powerful catalyst for youth empowerment and entrepreneurial growth. This impactful collaboration between Atlantic and Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago (YBTT) continues to bridge innovation, mentorship, and education across secondary schools in South Trinidad.
AYEP Cohort 3, which ran from August 2024 to March 2025, engaged over 200 students and delivered a hands-on journey through entrepreneurial awareness, personalized mentorship, and a pitch competition that brought bold ideas to life.
Introducing the Spark: SchoolSPARK Sessions
The programme kicked off with the SchoolSPARK outreach sessions, engaging 206 students across five secondary schools. These interactive sessions introduced students to the world of entrepreneurship through local entrepreneurs and YBTT alumni entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs like Charlott Khan, Cherub Joseph, Dareem Jeffrey, Jensen Alexander, Leah Benjamin, Roland Hamilton, Shamine Steven, Shanygne Jones, Shemeon Williams, and Torrie Patrick-Stewart shared their journeys—highlighting the highs, lows, and learnings that come with starting and running a business.
Each session ended with a mini pitch competition and an invitation to sign up to receive entrepreneurial training, encouraging deeper exploration.
From Curiosity to Confidence: Entrepreneurial Training
Sixty-three (63) students from the SchoolSPARK sessions participated in our two sessions of entrepreneurial training focused on real-world business development skills.
Session 1: Ideation Participants explored the difference between a general idea and a business idea. They were guided through identifying community problems, brainstorming creative solutions, and understanding how to turn those ideas into viable business opportunities. Interactive activities encouraged students to observe their surroundings, talk to people, and reflect on their own experiences to uncover meaningful business opportunities.
Session 2: Business Model & Pitching This session introduced students to key areas of a business model including defining the problem, identifying customers, shaping a value proposition, and outlining revenue streams. Students learned how to clearly articulate their business idea and practiced how to pitch with clarity, confidence, and creativity. They also reviewed a sample business case to understand how to translate everyday problems into impactful solutions.
These sessions weren’t just theoretical, they were practical, youth-focused, and aligned with the pitch competition criteria. With support from facilitators and mentors, students developed stronger communication skills, greater confidence, and clearer business ideas. Each school also received mentorship support to help students refine their pitches and prepare for success.
Power of Mentorship
Five dedicated mentors played a critical role in guiding students through the business development process, offering one-on-one support as they refined their ideas and prepared for the pitch competition. Their involvement included reviewing student concepts, providing feedback, and helping build confidence through regular check-ins. Their reflections underscore the transformative power of mentorship:
Working with the students was a great experience. They were very thoughtful and eager to learn. As a mentor, I was proud to see them grow in confidence. — Erica, YBTT Mentor
This approach will help students navigate their future. It’s admirable to see how entrepreneurship and mentorship can change their perspective on what's possible. — Bernadine, YBTT Mentor
Mentors emphasized the value of structured interaction, highlighting future opportunities to strengthen collaboration between mentors and teachers.
Pitch Perfect: Bringing Ideas to Life
The highlight of the programme was the Pitch Competition, where students submitted video pitches showcasing their business concepts. Twenty-Seven (27) students participated in the pitch competition. From these, the Top 10 were shortlisted and invited to a live Q&A session with a panel of judges, including representatives from Atlantic and YBTT.
Ideas ranged from eco-friendly innovations to community-centered solutions, each reflecting a student’s unique perspective and passion.
Finalists were celebrated with SchoolSPARK Awards, and the Top 3 winners were recognized for their outstanding pitches:
🥇 1st Place – VSS
Team Members: Jaynee, Saphiya & Saidah
Business Idea: Time Management App – A productivity app designed to help students organize their schedules, track assignments, and set reminders tailored to the school environment.
🥈 2nd Place – PFESS
Student: Elizabeth
Business Idea: Safe Tech Disposal – A sustainable solution for safely disposing of electronic waste, raising awareness about digital pollution and offering community-based drop-off points.
🥉 3rd Place – PFWSS
Student: Joshua
Business Idea: Comic Book Production – A business focused on creating culturally relevant comic books that blend education and entertainment for young readers.
These winners stood out for their innovation, presentation skills, and strong alignment with community and sustainability goals.
Reflections from the Classroom
Students and teachers shared powerful reflections on their AYEP experience—highlighting the value of exposure, engagement, and practical learning:
I would like to commend YBTT on the exceptional experience provided to the Form 4 students of Holy Name Convent Point Fortin. The mentorship of Bernadine Warrick was invaluable during her school visit, and it was clear that she brought both expertise and enthusiasm to the students, guiding them effectively in their business pitch development. The collaboration between YBTT personnel and the school was well-coordinated, and the students greatly benefited from the hands-on approach to learning entrepreneurship. They not only developed practical business skills but also gained confidence in their ability to work collaboratively. I look forward to seeing how they apply these lessons in the future. — Elizabeth, HNCPF Teacher
The best part of the AYEP for me was actually the day that I did my recording of the presentation. It was challenging, but I had a lot of fun. I'm really glad now that I was willing to give the program a try. Having completed the course, I'm actually considering becoming an entrepreneur in the future. Now that I have entered, I think in the future, we need to find ways to encourage more students to enter the program. — Denice, CSS
I really enjoyed every part of the Business Pitch project. It was my first time doing something like this, and it turned out to be a rewarding experience that helped me think more creatively and approach business ideas with purpose. The support from our mentor and coach was outstanding, they were clear, focused, and always made sure we understood the process. Their guidance gave me the confidence to put my ideas into action. The program itself was very well organized. From identifying the problem to structuring the pitch, everything was laid out in a way that made the process smooth and engaging. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. The entire experience exceeded my expectations, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it. — Molique, PFESS
I thoroughly enjoyed the entrepreneurship program from YBTT. The sessions with the mentors were quite interesting and taught us a lot about setting up our business. I even got the opportunity to create my own business plan with my teammate and create a pitch for the competition. — Alaina, PFWSS
Looking Forward
AYEP Cohort 3 was more than a training programme—it was a launchpad for belief, creativity, and leadership. As we close this chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude to Atlantic for its continued support in building the next generation of entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
Together, we’re not just teaching entrepreneurship—we’re igniting futures.