The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

AN award ceremony at the American Corner within the Harry C Moore Library in the University of The Bahamas yesterday marked the conclusion of the SYNC (Science, Youth, Nation Building, and Culture) Junkanoo Entrepreneurship Programme.

Organised in partnership with the US Embassy Nassau and Bahamian digital wallet company Kanoo Pays, the programme sought to empower youth by integrating Bahamian culture with cutting-edge technology. US Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish and Bahamian government officials attended the event to celebrate the participants’ accomplishments.

During the ceremony, Ms Furnish shared insights from her entrepreneurial journey, stressing the significance of perseverance and passion. She recounted her initial ventures — an ice cream shop, a floral design business, and a shoe design project — all of which ultimately failed.

“It’s crucial to love what you do. Be invested and persistent,” she advised, adding: “Failure isn’t necessarily negative.”

Ms Furnish encouraged students to learn from setbacks and persist in their ambitions, stating, “Today’s outcome is just the start. Keep exploring, innovating, and believing in yourselves.”

Ms Furnish also commended the programme’s impact on participants, noting, “Your hard work, creativity, and dedication are truly inspiring.”

She recognised the support of the students’ families, acknowledging their sacrifices for their children’s participation.

The ceremony included a pitch competition and a final showcase, where students presented 3D-printed Junkanoo-inspired products to a panel of judges.

The SYNC programme featured two phases: Innovative Education and Creative Competition. The Innovative Education phase, running from April to June, encompassed a Junkanoo workshop on the history and craft of Junkanoo, an American Spaces 3D Printing Workshop focused on Junkanoo-themed items, and an Entrepreneurship Workshop on business fundamentals.

The Creative Competition, from July to mid-August, had students design Junkanoo-inspired products and souvenirs using 3D printing. The pitch competition allowed them to present their creations, with the winning group revealed at the final showcase.

Involving fifteen students aged 14-18, the SYNC Junkanoo Entrepreneurship Programme blended traditional Bahamian Junkanoo designs with modern 3D printing technologies, supporting U.S. objectives of fostering innovation, cultural exchange, and youth empowerment.

Khalil Braithwaite, chief marketing officer at Kanoo, underscored the programme’s importance. “This marks a full-circle moment for both the programme and myself,” he said. He highlighted the value of engaging young people in leading their peers, stating, “The greatest resource of any great nation is its children. Restricting access to this resource stifles potential.”

Braithwaite praised the programme’s partners for their collaborative efforts and called for the continuation of its momentum. “We’ve designed the programme to be cost-effective, prioritising the welfare of the students,” he added.

The winning group received an all-expenses-paid college tour to the United States in Fall 2024, including visits to institutions specialising in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) careers and majors.