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Artwork by: Kathryn Gichini

The YECO 2024 Bootcamp, a pivotal component of the Ye! Youth Ecopreneur Programme 2024, closed with a vibrant and inspiring event on 4 July 2024. This occasion marks the end of ten weeks of intensive training of as well as collaboration and networking among 125 young ecopreneurs, selected from a pool of over 850 applicants worldwide.

In the words of one participant, “the bootcamp was a transformative experience that not only equipped us with essential skills but also connected us with a global network of like-minded individuals committed to making a positive impact on the environment.”

Launched by the G20 Global Land Initiative and the International Trade Center (ITC), the YECO 2024 programme is equipping young innovators with the skills and knowledge to lead private sector efforts to reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040. 

The programme is moving G20 GLI towards its ambitious goal of training 10,000 young ecopreneurs by 2040. YECO is also supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Google and the American legal firm Sidley Austin LLP.

During the bootcamp, the ecopreneurs took part in masterclasses, tailored online courses and interactive activities designed to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and environmental impact.

Highlights of the bootcamp included coffee roulette exercises, which facilitated meaningful connections among participants, and regional virtual calls to build a sense of global community and collaboration.

The closing event celebrated the achievements of the participants and highlighted the transformative journey they embarked on. 

Among the 125 participants, only 25 will advance to the next stage of the programme, the accelerator stage. Accelerator phase participants are selected through a competitive pitching process that identifies exceptional projects. 

In the new phase ecopreneurs will receive more intensive support, mentorship and resources to scale their innovative solutions.

The accelerator stage offers many significant benefits:

• A bespoke 360-degree Business Assessment, followed by tailored trainings and coaching for the start-up business.
• Seed funding and access to investment networks for the Land Restoration category
• Preferential access to pro-bono legal services from renown global firm Sidley Austin LLP.
• Preferential access to the Google Start-Up for Sustainable Development Programme.

YECO 2024 is an example of a collaborative effort aiming to drive innovation, promote sustainability and empower youth to become agents of change. 

As the accelerator stage commences, the focus will turn to deepening the impact of these initiatives to ensure they are scalable, sustainable and ready to tackle the pressing environmental challenges of our time. 

The 25 ecopreneurs moving forward will receive targeted mentorship from industry leaders, additional funding opportunities and platforms to showcase their work to a global audience.

The YECO 2024 programme continues to be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change, demonstrating the power of youth-led innovation in creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all.Youth Ecopreneurs interested in joining the 2025 cohort can already indicate their interest via:
https://surveys.intracen.org/response/G2tIYnJbRgUKZFNxVlJ6S0d-cXs.

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