Published 2 October 2019

Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source

Living in the smallest sovereign country in the Western Hemisphere, young leaders in St. Kitts and Nevis are still equipped to make a global, entrepreneurial impact thanks to LEES – the Leadership Empowerment and Educational Source.

Held September 16 in conjunction with St. Kitts’ Independence Day celebrations, LEES was organized by Presidential Precinct alumnus Janeel Boon. Janeel was a participant in the 2018 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).

“Standing out, making the first move, and standing for [entrepreneurial] principles are rapidly becoming standards of old in St. Kitts and Nevis; therefore, I decided to host this leadership retreat, to reset and recharge the minds of leaders in our region,” said Janeel. “This retreat exceeded my imagination, with four local speakers, one from Anguilla, and one from St. Maarten.”
 

 
In addition to keynote remarks and networking opportunities throughout, LEES attendees enjoyed outdoor games and giveaways provided by the event’s nearly 30 partners. One of these partners was Meridian International Center, an implementor of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative.

Two attendees offered impactful and illustrative vignettes of the program’s impact. First, in a well publicized raffle drawing, one lucky attendee won a plane ticket to St. Maarten. It just so happened that this attendee was already seeking to secure travel to the island for necessary medical testing. Without LEES and this promotional raffle, she was uncertain whether or not she would be able to travel. Second, in the program’s first networking break, one attendee shared that she was in the “idea stage” of her business. Event organizers quickly worked to provide an opportunity for other attendees to offer peer feedback on the ideation – a mixed drink concept based on traditional Haitian ingredients. By the end of LEES, this attendee was flooded by the demand and positive feedback. LEES was the spark that this attendee needed to finalize her logo, business cards, and official business plan. Janeel reports that she is now applying for her official business license in St. Kitts.
 

 
These two stories offer succinct affirmations that LEES was an effective investment in the young entrepreneurs throughout St. Kitts and Nevis. The newly built network of attendees will continue to connect through quarterly “Power Hours” – offering a continued opportunity to bounce new ideas, gain necessary feedback, and remain connected with a core support group that shares a commitment to entrepreneurship in the Caribbean.

The Presidential Precinct’s vision blossoms when alumni return home to invest their newfound knowledge, expertise, and networks. Janeel’s resolve to empower other entrepreneurs – helping them realize their full potential – encapsulates this vision with great strength.