The U.S. Department of State awarded a $373,000 Professional Exchange Grant to the Global Training and Development Institute (GTDI) at the Center for Continuing Studies (CCS). Roy Pietro, CCS's Associate Director and Principal Investigator for the grant, noted that the purpose of the Young Entrepreneurs Program is to "promote cross-cultural understanding and to help young Kenyan entrepreneurs build successful businesses that create jobs and raise the standard of living in their communities, which is well-aligned with UConn’s institutional mission of fostering global citizenship."

"The Institute’s success in winning this grant speaks to the high degree of expertise that the GTDI has to offer in matters of globalization and economic development," adds University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan. "I’m delighted that we’ll be collaborating with our colleagues in Kenya on this important initiative."

The GTDI is partnering with TechnoServe-Kenya, an internationally recognized leader in the field of economic development, and working in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Kenya to select 28 young Kenyan entrepreneurs. The selection will focus on Kenyan citizens between the ages of 25-35 who are most likely to utilize the knowledge gained to grow businesses, create jobs, and become community business leaders.

Those selected will spend four weeks in the U.S. developing their business skills and enhancing their understanding of the U.S. through a combination of workshops, seminars, business internships, and cultural activities. Workshop sessions will be led by UConn’s Family Business Program (within the UConn School of Business and an initiative of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation) and TechnoServe-Kenya business advisors.

The program will be conducted in two sessions of 14 participants each. One session will run from February to April 2010; the second will run from October to December 2010. Training will take place at UConn’s Storrs campus and at nearby business locations, where participants will be involved in job shadowing and internships to gain firsthand knowledge. Designed to balance interactive learning activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities, the program will help participants learn and experience how U.S. businesses operate.

Numerous private sector small businesses, as well as the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), have agreed to work with UConn to set up the mentoring and job shadowing elements of the program. UConn will send 10-12 participating U.S. business mentors and several program staff and faculty to Kenya for two week visits to provide consulting services to the participants’ businesses and local communities. They will also facilitate small business development workshops in both Nairobi and Kisumu for approximately 40 additional young entrepreneurs. Workshop design will be based on Kenyan participant requests and is expected to cover topics such as basic business principles, marketing, customer-service strategies, and business ethics.

GTDI partner TechnoServe is leading a movement that empowers people in the developing world to build businesses that break the cycle of poverty. Since its founding in 1968, the U.S.-based nonprofit has helped to create or expand thousands of businesses, benefiting millions of people in more than 30 countries. The Financial Times has rated TechnoServe as one of the top five NGOs for corporate partnerships. Charity Navigator has also awarded its highest Four Star ranking to TechnoServe.

Next week, five Russian officials will visit what to them is a must-see Connecticut tourist attraction — West Hartford Town Hall.  They will also visit Mansfield town halls; New Haven's economic development administration; Yale; the Mark Twain House and Museum; the state Capitol and Legislative Office Building; the state Supreme Court; the state Department of Economic and Community Development; the state comptroller; and the Windham Area Chamber of Commerce.

The five are guests of the Open World Program, founded by the U.S. Congress in 1999. Since the program began, more than 12,000 people from Europe and Asia have come to America to study democracy, society and community life. They work with their American counterparts and stay in American homes.