Mi Rae is among 16 YES students selected to travel to Latin America after successfully competing at the Entrepreneurs in Action (EIA) business competition.

The overseas trips are part of a partnership between Young Enterprise and the Latin America Centre for Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE). The Latin America CAPE’s innovative mobility programmes will give these young Kiwis a deeper knowledge and understanding of Latin America, NZ business ecosystems in the region and a variety of Kiwi businesses operating in Chile and Brazil.

On these trips the students will learn about local culture and business. They will meet local entrepreneurs, including those involved in some of our trade relationships. They will experience site visits to established companies and start-ups, and most excitingly, they will work with local students on thought-provoking business challenges.

At Entrepreneurs in Action, teams competed in two back-to-back challenges relating to problem solving and market entry strategy, orchestrated by sponsors Ministry for Primary Industries, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Members of the winning team for each challenge won a $3000 award to Massey University, and the winning team of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Challenge on Day 2 were awarded a trip to Chile in October. Winners of the trip to Brazil in December were selected on an individual basis and were chosen based on their performance over the weekend, and a supplementary video application.

EIA participants were chosen from the 4000+ participants in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme programme that spans the entire school year. Of those 4000+, 207 applied to compete in the event with only the top 80 students being selected from across New Zealand.

New Zealand has a great track record for fresh thinking initiatives on the world stage. These trips are an investment in young New Zealanders; to enhance their intercultural business acumen, understanding of the importance of Latin America to New Zealand’s future, and to inspire them to be the next generation of young entrepreneurs!  

Well done Mi Rae, we are very proud of you!