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FirstCaribbean contributes to Barbados Youth Business Trust Entrepreneurship Program FirstCaribbean has extended a helping hand to young entrepreneurs in Barbados, through the Barbados Youth Business Trust, which recently received some much needed financial assistance from the bank to advance its lending as part of its youth entrepreneurship program. FirstCaribbean International Bank recently presented the organization with BDS$70,000 towards its activities in Barbados. During a presentation of the second half of the funds at the bank's head office in Warrens, Barbados, Mr. David Clarke, chairman of the BYBT, conveyed the organization's thanks on behalf of its young clients. "I would like to thank FirstCaribbean for their continued support to the BYBT in these difficult economic times. The young entrepreneurs of Barbados need more support now than at any time in the BYBT's history. This money will be used to help several young entrepreneurs get started in business." Mr. Clarke received the funds from Milton Brady, Managing Director of Corporate and Investment Banking at FirstCaribbean, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees of FirstCaribbean's Community Trust Foundation. "Two of the important themes of FirstCaribbean's Corporate Social Responsibility program are young people and entrepreneurship, so we see this as the perfect coming together of these two themes. FirstCaribbean is extremely pleased to be able to work through the BYBT to give young entrepreneurs their start in business" stated Mr. Brady. The FirstCaribbean Foundation, which was established by the bank in 2003 to oversee its community relations program, has donated nearly US$10M to worthwhile community programs in the region over the past 7 years. As a demonstration of its commitment to the region, FirstCaribbean has pledged 1% of its prior-year pre-tax profits to the community. Youth Business International, to which the BYBT is affiliated, and FirstCaribbean are committed to the fostering of an entrepreneurial spirit among young people in the region as a means of combating youth poverty and unemployment. Youth Business International (YBI), established by the Prince of Wales' Trust in the UK, has been responsible for the delivery of programs in support of disadvantaged young enabling them to become entrepreneurs through the provision of business mentoring and start-up loan capital and business support. The Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) is one of the oldest and most experienced youth entrepreneurship programs within the YBI network. The BYBT is the lead program with responsibility for assisting with the start up of programs, sharing best practices and monitoring brand quality. Programs currently operate in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, St. Lucia and Belize. As part of its social outreach program, FirstCaribbean has donated funds to each of these organizations, and is currently assisting the Caribbean Association of Youth Business Trusts with the setting up of similar organizations in other Caribbean countries. In addition, the bank's employees act as mentors to some of the young entrepreneurs and senior executives in participating countries sit on the boards of the trusts. The BYBT's young entrepreneurs once again participated in the 15th Annual Caribbean Export Gift and Craft Show, also sponsored by FirstCaribbean, which was held at the Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Center from October 2nd to 4th, 2008. The show gave the young entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their products. Monday, July 6, 2009