LAC LA BICHE – A group of youths from the Lac La Biche area learned about various business and entrepreneur skills and how to start their own enterprises through the Young Entrepreneurs Training Initiative (YETI)
The summer business program is designed for senior high school students who want to explore entrepreneurship by turning their ideas into real businesses, according to Suavek Bartosinski, executive director of Community Futures Lac La Biche,
On July 2, those young people participated in the official kickoff to the YETI program which runs over an eight-week summer period, and covers topics such as marketing, money management, business planning, and wellness.
“Students are encouraged to commit at least 15 hours per week to their business. Many also become eligible for high school credits upon completing the program requirements,” Bartosinski told Lakeland This Week.
Participants receive $500 in startup funding, attend business training workshops, and operate their business over the duration of the summer program.
In order to be eligible for the $500, he explained, when youth apply to participate, they are required to have a plan for a business which includes key components such as a budget.
Some of those local youths taking part already have their own small enterprises, including Maddy Cherniwchan and Maria Langevin.
For Cherniwchan, who will be starting her Grade 12 year at JA Williams (JAWS) High School this fall, an entrepreneurial fair hosted at the school this past May got her interested in starting her own business, called the Stalk Market. The Stalk Market sells a variety of planters, flower baskets, some small gifts, as well as keychains. These plants are grown in a small-scale greenhouse operation inside of her home.
“I decided it would be a good idea to like put myself out there, make a little bit of money and do something that I love in the process,” she explained.
Having her own business has taught Cherniwchan many skills, including financial management, leadership skills, and how to take the initiative and do things for herself. She is hoping to further develop her leadership and organizational skills.
“You get to work at your own pace, on your own time,” she stated.
Langevin, a Grade 10 student at JAWS, has a jewelry company called Blissful Beadings. She got involved in the summer program because she wants to expand her business and acquire leadership skills
Bartosinski said YETI fosters entrepreneurial spirit by giving students the freedom to explore, test, and grow their ideas, with the guidance of local mentors. With youth unemployment remaining high, he added, YETI offers a powerful alternative to the typical summer job.
“It gives students the opportunity to earn income, gain real-world skills, and build confidence by starting something of their own—something they can be proud of long after the summer ends,” he said. “It shows them that with the right support, they can take action, earn income, and make an impact—right now, not years from now.”
