On Tuesday 29th March 2022 Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI) successfully held its annual general meeting (AGM) at the Dreamcast Art Hub with the result of our newly elected YECSI board members.
John Wopereis retains his seat as Chairman, Limahl Totogi as the new Vice-Chairman and three new ordinary board members Jackie Molea Chow, Cedric Takilmwa and Surian Yee.
Returning board members are John Wopereis and Limahl Totogi.
Presenting during the AGM was chairman John Wopereis who highlighted some 2021 activities and also the launched of YECSI 2022-2024 strategic plan.
He acknowledges all YECSI financial members for continue driving their own dreams and taking risks to continue running their businesses despite the unrest riot and Covid-19 that took place in our country for the last past 6 months.
He further stated that this is the first of its kind for YECSI as an organization along with its financial members to deal with the unrest of riot and covid-19 community transmission in our country.
“It’s a first for all us and YECSI as an organization to deal with riot and covid-19. And I feel that as a team we did our best with what we had given the situation we are in. And sad to say that the last 6 months had been not normal for any person, businesses or organization in Solomon Islands,” he said.
Furthermore, Chairman John encourage all attending members that with these challenges it is something that as entrepreneurs should learn from and to remind themselves what it means to be an entrepreneur in time like this.
“As entrepreneurs we must never stop innovating, we must always find and utilize new opportunities as they come and we must push together with a growth mindset and continue support one another because together we are stronger,” he said.
The Chairman then also congratulated and commended all YECSI financial members for being able to preserver with their businesses during the riot and covid-19 over the past 6 months.
He said that the journey of an entrepreneur is not an easy one. He added: “let the experiences we had build us to better in all aspects in life and continue to be role model for other young aspiring and entrepreneurs in Solomon Islands.”
Presented also at the AGM was YECSI Coordinator Maverick Peter Seda and YECSI Treasurer Gloria Konare.
YECSI Coordinator Maverick Peter Seda stated that with the new leadership in the YECSI board, the Secretariat will look forward to work closely with them and making sure that YECSI vision, mission and core values remain the same.
He also firmly believes that with this new leadership it will help YECSI to chart its path forward.
The AGM then closes with a light refreshment and allows time for members to meet each other and congratulate our new YECSI board members along with YECSI Secretariat team.
The establishment of YECSI in 2017 was based on the belief that youths can be a positive driving force in Solomon Islands’ development if they are given opportunities to do so. To ensure the effectiveness of YECSI, an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) was forged between the Government (SIG) and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) which led to the formal establishment of YEC, as the Young Entrepreneurs Council Solomon Islands (YECSI). Advocating for entrepreneurship as an alternative employment option for people between the ages of 18-40 years of age, YECSI continues to support, connect and bridge young Solomon Islands to elevate as entrepreneurs.
