Economic Growth Ghana Project #12089

E-Coaching and Support for Young Entrepreneurs

by Association of African Entrepreneurs

Project Report | May 23, 2013
The E-Coaching Program

By Petya Yankova | Volunteer

Selling Oranges

E-Coaching is an innovative way of regenerating the workforce by way of providing support to those who need it most: young people with big ideas but restricted resources of turning these ideas into reality. In order words, E-Coaching provides the much needed flow of advice to turn the seeds of ideas into full-grown plants, which in time will also produce fruits. In view of the fast-growing digital world, it could well be said that E-Coaching is a sustainable program of ensuring the future entrepreneurs are well educated and have received a suitable training.

The AAE-YEN E-Coaching program is bound to be successful because of its well-rounded approach and sustainability. The online mentoring scheme offers young people the chance to get in touch with an established mentor who is willing to spare time and advise them. The support given could range from tips on personal effectiveness and leadership to and business development and IT skills.

The E-Coaching program’s strength lies in recognizing the diversity of needs mentees have and addressing that diversity with special attention to the individual. The program is entirely sustainable because after completion the mentees have received the necessary knowledge to start their own business. With the expansion of the program, the mentees might well turn into next generation’s mentors and educators.

The E-Coaching program has already taken roots in Australia, for example. There companies and individuals are offered advice online. The emphasis is once again on commitment, achievable outcomes and self-sustainable business ideas. The only observable difference between the Australian E-Coaching program and the newly starting AAE-YEN partnership is simply the type of support mentees need. While the Australian program centers mainly on mentees who wish to transform their businesses, the AAE-YEN budding program aims at helping mentees bring their ideas to action and have their first business achievements.

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Mar 25, 2013
My Mentoring Experience with AAE

By Fulbert CHEKOUA | AAE E-Coach

Fulbert CHEKOUA

I joined the Association of African Entrepreneurs - Youth Employment Network (AAE-YEN) E-coaching program about 10 months ago (joined on June 2012) as E-Coach. Since then, I have mentored and still mentoring a total of 3 young entrepreneurs; I am to start with the 4th mentee next week.

Ahmed HATATA is my first mentee. He is from Egypt, a university student wishing to launch an IT company offering mobile phones' applications. Ahmed and I worked on his project for about 2 months, drafting a business model and a business plan. My way of working consist in explaining the Why and How to go with the mentee's requested support. Unfortunately, after the last socio-political events in Egypt, Ahmed is no more reachable neither by E-mail, Skype, nor telephone. The AAE-YEN officials too tried by their own means to reach him to not avail.
Mohamed MATTAR is from Palestine, he is an ICT officer in an international organisation in the Palestinian occupied Territory. He is working to develop a venture named "PtDroid for Mobile development" that provides mobile applications. He needed help on business planning and products marketing. We are in the process of drafting these documents but since he always says he is so busy with his job, this process is very slow. I finally think that he needs to be motivated to really achieve his goal of launching a company. We communicate by E-mail and Skype.
Grace WANENE is a communication assistant with a Kenyan NGO, and she's from Kenya. She's working to launch a social venture named "The Farmer’s Circle" which is a social enterprise that aims to improve access to agricultural knowledge and information by young farmers through mobile phones and to carry out training in agriculture. We are drafting a business plan which is very specific to social enterprises. She also need help on the telecom technical aspect of her project. Grace seems to be very motivated and the process is going on smouthly. We communicate mainly by E-mail; but we mutually connected on Skype, and exchanged our telephone numbers too for future communications.
Arnest SEBBUMBA is from Uganda and his project is also in the agriculture/agro-industry sector. He intend to produce agri products and sale them; then incoporate training activities to it. We are to start our mentoring relationship next week.

Basically, I received an online training at the AAE/YEN Mentoring University, on how to lead mentoring relations and the tips acquired are very usefull in facilitating this E-Coaching activity. Finally, I find it amazing to transfer knowledge and skills to people in need, especially to people who intend to become change agents.

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Feb 21, 2013
Preparatory works at the proposed E-Coaching Center construction site in Ghana

By Cornelius Nartey | Project Leader

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