In January 2017, with partial funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and The Katherine B. Andersen Fund, the College launched the first, 3-year phase of the Entrepreneurial Education for Rural Youth Program. 

Under the direction of project coordinator Juan José Estrada, the UAC-CP Business School now offers a specialized training program for students in all areas of study. To date, 120 men and women have participated in the program, which focuses on critical business skills, such as accounting, marketing, and human resources.

As part of the training, students gain practical business management experience through the UAC-CP’s micro-enterprises, which have updated equipment and newly developed business plans.

In addition, the Business School provides one-on-one guidance to students and graduates interested in starting or expanding their own business. Fifty students are currently in the process of solidifying business plans, which will fulfill a graduation requirement and position them to secure capital seed money for their budding enterprise.

UAC-CP Director Fr. Alejandro Mamani says the initiative reinforces the mission of the UAC-CP to prepare youth to be agents of change. “This project enriches the training we provide our students; it pushes them to consider how they might contribute to rural development as small business owners.”