You don’t need money, but brains to start a business

Most young people are unemployed because they have a misconception that one can only start an income-generating venture when they have a lot of money. Lydie Hakizimana, the chairperson of the Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs at Private Sector Federation, said this mindset was partly responsible for the increasing rate of unemployment in the country. Hakizimana also noted that though unemployment needed to be addressed urgently, lack of critical thinking and innovation among the youth is worsening the problem.“Most of us will fear to start an income-generating activity because we think that for one to start a business they need a lot of money. That’s why many young people are looking for non-existent white collar jobs,” Hakizimana said. She added that lack of innovation has led some youth to copy successful businesses, “but they forget this alone can never make one succeed unless they are creative, too”.Hakizimana encouraged the youth to join groups where they can learn financial management skills to help ease the problem of unemployment. “We are conscious of the fact that our children lack the skills needed by the economy, but it’s our responsibility as a chamber to mentor and help them improve,” she said.According to Vedaste Semukunzi, the Ministry of Labour communications officer, many of the unemployed youth shunned technical education. Semukunzi noted that if vocational education was embraced by schools, this problem would be minimal. Semukunzi, however, pointed out that youth and women are also given first priority under the the Business Development Fund programme. The fund also gives 75 per cent of collateral guarantees when small-and-medium enterprises or local co-operatives apply for loans in banks. Immy Kamarade, the Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs boss, said it is important that the government emphasises entrepreneurship because of its multiplier effect as far as job-creation is concerned. She, however, pointed out that the problem is that some youth do not want to work hard or think outside the box.“Because entrepreneurship involves not only working so hard, but also being ready to bear risks, most people tend to shy away. This in the end affects our economy. It’s important that young people are encouraged to get involved in business at an early age if we are to solve the unemployment problem,” Kamarade noted.

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You don’t need money, but brains to start a business