Barbuda's Young Entrepreneurs Pitch their Way to Glory as ACB Caribbean and Digicel Back Landmark New Gen Innovators Workshop

Secondary school students from Barbuda have spent four days turning community problems into business plans — and on the final day, they stood before a panel of entrepreneurs and pitched their ideas for real. The 2026 New Gen Innovators Entrepreneurship Workshop, held from June 22 to 25 at the Sir McChesney George Secondary School, was the most ambitious youth enterprise programme the sister isle has hosted, and it was backed by two of the region's leading corporate names.

ACB Caribbean and Digicel Join as Part-Sponsors

BarbudanGO, lead of a multi-stakeholder Steering Committee that includes the Barbuda Council and the Ministry of Education, announced that ACB Caribbean and Digicel joined as part-sponsors of the workshop. The two organisations joined a group of supporters backing the programme, which was funded by the European Union with support from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, as part of a wider regional initiative to advance sustainable development and entrepreneurship across the Eastern Caribbean.

The sponsorship contributions from ACB Caribbean and Digicel supported workshop materials, student workbooks, and awards for participating teams.

Joy N. Henry-Goodwin, Marketing Consultant with ACB Caribbean, spoke to the spirit of the investment. "We believe that investing in young people is one of the most meaningful contributions a financial institution can make to its community. The New Gen Innovators Workshop embodies the spirit of enterprise and ambition that ACB Caribbean has always championed, and we are proud to play a part in bringing this experience to the young people of Barbuda," she said.

Digicel's Chief Executive Officer for the North West Indies Region, Wenise Davis, framed her company's involvement as an investment in connectivity as much as commerce. "At Digicel, we believe technology, opportunity and meaningful connections go hand in hand. Supporting the New Gen Innovators Workshop is an investment in the young people of Barbuda and in the future of enterprise across our region," Davis said. "We are proud to play a part in this journey, creating real connections that inspire growth, innovation and lasting success."

From Classroom to Boardroom in Four Days

The four-day intensive programme, designed for young people aged 13 to 16 and developed under the barbudanGO initiative, brought secondary school students together in teams to identify real community problems, develop business solutions, conduct market research, build a business plan, and deliver a live five-minute pitch to a panel of resident entrepreneurs on the final day.

The workshop was made possible by Principal Rexford Harry, who provided the venue, and was led by Business Teacher Amelia Desouza across the four days, with Programme Assistant Starr George supporting students throughout.

The Mentors Who Showed Up

Each session was enriched by resident entrepreneurs who gave their time as guest speakers and mentors: Relton Lynch of Res+ Electrical; Clarvice Richards of CCCC Solution concrete plant; Ezekiel Francois, President of the National Youth Parliament Association; Frederique Bonfils of Seabridge Ferries; and Jeron Timmons, a Luxury Real Estate Professional from Barbuda Ocean Club. Malenee Greene of ACB Caribbean also hosted an interactive session on financing a business.

The Business Ideas They Built

The business concepts the students developed and pitched were rooted in the realities of Barbudan life: a Beauty and Styles Salon, a Trash to Treasure recycling plant, BLF — Barbuda Local Farm, and Be Gone Rodent Busters. Each concept emerged from the students' own observation of community needs — a testament to the programme's insistence that real entrepreneurship begins with looking at your own surroundings with fresh eyes.

The Winners

Prizes were awarded across three categories at the close of the Pitch Challenge on June 25. Alexandria Desouza claimed the Best Individual Pitcher award, receiving a Galaxy tablet sponsored by Digicel. The Best Group Pitch was won by Team Browning, owners of the Trash to Treasure recycling plant concept, who earned a dining experience at Uncle Roddy's. The Most Promising Entrepreneur award went to Khadalia Joseph, who received an ACB Youth Bank Account opened with EC$200 — a fitting prize that gives a young entrepreneur a real financial starting point.

The Director's Verdict

Brandon Walker, Director of Education at barbudanGO, praised the private sector partners for the signal their involvement sends. "The decision by ACB Caribbean and Digicel to come on board as part-sponsors is a powerful statement of confidence in Barbuda's young people and in the value of locally-led economic development. Partnerships like these are essential to sustaining programmes that create real, lasting change in small island communities," he said.

What Comes Next

A Youth Entrepreneurship Trade Show is scheduled for July 4, providing the workshop participants with a public platform to showcase their enterprise concepts to the wider Barbudan community and visiting guests.

For an island whose communal land, natural beauty, and tight-knit community are among its greatest assets, the sight of teenagers pitching recycling plants and local farms to a panel of entrepreneurs in their own school is precisely the kind of future that defenders of Barbuda's way of life are fighting to protect and build.