SPARK Skilled Youth Entrepreneurship competition 2024 now accepting applications

From left: 1st Runner-up of SPARK 2023 Malindu Pradinath, 3rd Runner-up Helani Dinali, ILO Chief Technical Advisor Dr. Thomas Kring, Winner Mihindi Minupama, 2nd Runner-up Kavindi Ranasinghe and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Senior Assistant Secretary General Manori Dissanayaka 

The SPARK Skilled Youth Entrepreneurship competition, a premier national platform dedicated to inspiring and empowering young entrepreneurs, has officially begun accepting applications for its 2024 edition. Organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, SPARK offers a unique opportunity for youth aged 15 to 30 years to develop their entrepreneurial skills and gain valuable exposure in two categories: The School Category and the Open Category.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce CEO, Buwenakabahu Perera, highlighted the competition’s vital role in nurturing young entrepreneurial talent in Sri Lanka. “We prioritise youth entrepreneurship development and recognise the significant contribution young entrepreneurs make to the future of Sri Lanka’s commercial sector. Our commitment to the SPARK platform, in collaboration with our private sector partners, is to cultivate young ambitions and showcase the potential of the next generation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. An exciting competition awaits this year’s participants, and we strongly encourage parents and educators to support youth participation.”

This year’s edition will feature enhanced online workshops designed to provide deeper insights and advanced entrepreneurial skills. The mentorship program has been broadened to include a wider range of industry experts, offering personalised guidance to participants. Winners will have greater opportunities for international networking, enhancing their exposure to global entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Celebrating its second consecutive year, SPARK 2024 builds on the success of its inaugural edition. Last year’s competition saw participants excel in creating business plans through online workshops, business pitching sessions, a boot-camp, and one-on-one mentoring. The top winners were awarded the chance to visit advanced innovation ecosystems in Hyderabad, India.

SPARK 2023 winner, Mihindi Minupama Bandara, a 16-year-old, shared her experience: “I applied to SPARK with high expectations and succeeded in achieving my goal. It paved a clear path towards my entrepreneurial future. I believe that entrepreneurs are essential for a nation’s development. The SPARK competition helped me develop the skills I need to become a successful entrepreneur.” She encourages this year’s participants by saying, “Everyone has a chance to participate in SPARK this year. Participating in the competition is a victory in itself, so don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to turn your dreams into reality.”

Mihindi’s father, Lalith Sujeewa Bandara, expressed his pride and satisfaction with his daughter’s involvement in the competition. “I wasn’t worried about her managing entrepreneurial activities alongside her school education because she balances her time well. Participating in this competition allows her to explore beyond traditional career paths. I urge parents to motivate their children to participate in SPARK, to develop vital skills and pursue their ambitions.”

Supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the South Asia Leadership in Entrepreneurship (SALE) project, and funded by the US Department of State, SPARK 2024 aims to promote youth entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka by fostering a conducive environment for start-up businesses and increasing interest in entrepreneurship.

ILO Chief Technical Advisor Dr. Thomas Kring, highlighted the potential and resilience of Sri Lanka’s young entrepreneurs. “We invite youth to apply to the competition and pitch their ideas and solutions for the pressing challenges of our time. Our support aims to empower young people as they venture into the entrepreneurial world. Competitors will gain invaluable skills, while winners will benefit from international exposure and extended networking opportunities for potential business partnerships.”

‘Most Outstanding Young Entrepreneurship Journalists’ to be recognised

In addition to the main competition, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce plans to recognise the ‘Most Outstanding Young Entrepreneurship Journalists’ at the SPARK Skilled Youth Entrepreneurship Competition 2024.

The competition, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation and several entrepreneurship ecosystem partners, offers an unparalleled opportunity for aspiring young entrepreneurs to pitch their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial solutions.

SPARK 2024 will also recognise and reward young journalists who have excelled in entrepreneurial journalism (making journalism a viable business) and entrepreneurship journalism (promoting entrepreneurship through journalism). Young journalists (both women and men) below 30 years of age and engaged in print, electronic, digital, or social media on a full-time or part-time basis, as well as those who operate their own media channels, can apply for the SPARK Young Entrepreneurship Journalist Award and SPARK Young Entrepreneurial Journalist Award. These awards will be announced at the SPARK Grand Finale in September 2024.

During the competition period, contestants will receive extensive guidance and support on entrepreneurism and entrepreneurship journalism and will be encouraged to:

•  Highlight the importance of youth entrepreneurship for Sri Lanka
•  Promote entrepreneurship skills development amongst young women and men
• Increase public outreach of the SPARK 2024 Competition

The winners of the two categories will be selected by an eminent panel of judges, based on the following criteria:

SPARK Young Entrepreneurship Journalist Award

•  Creativity, innovativeness, and adherence to media ethics of the content published in the relevant media channels, relating to the aspects mentioned above
• Public outreach and proactive/positive responses achieved for such content
• Positive impact on society caused by such entrepreneurship journalism

SPARK Young Entrepreneurial Journalist Award

•  Creativity, innovativeness, and adherence to media ethics of the content published in the relevant media channels, relating to the aspects mentioned above
•  Outstanding entrepreneurial initiatives taken (including entrepreneurship employed)
•  Positive impact caused to the media institutions that they serve/own (to be endorsed by the owners or senior management/editors of such institutions, with verifiable evidence)

The competition will recognise and appraise any initiatives taken (by the contestant individually or by a team led by the contestant) on or after 20 June (the date of launching the SPARK 2024 Competition). The deadline for applications is 31 August.

Interested young journalists (of any media as mentioned above) can apply online through the form: https://forms.gle/KyFa9JeU8kQFRc666.

The SPARK competition was launched in 2023, as a flagship initiative of the International Labour Organisation’s South Asia Leadership in Entrepreneurship (SALE) project, funded by the U.S. Department of State. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, being the principal implementing partner

of the SALE project, will continue this competition on an annual basis, in view of boosting youth entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.

The grand finale of the SPARK 2024 Youth Skilled Entrepreneurship Competition will be held in September. Students with entrepreneurial ambitions and young innovators are encouraged to apply now via the SPARK website https://spark.chamber.lk/ . Applications close on 30th July 2024.