The 1^st leg of the University Business Clinics (UBC) was successfully held at the Multi-Purpose Room, Silliman University in Dumaguete City on November 11, 2013.

The UBC aims encourage convergence models to emerge through partnerships between the academe, the local government and the private sector together with the youth. A focus of the activity is the creation of communities of practice that will sustain the internal direction, character, and energy for entrepreneurial endeavors.

“Entrepreneurship is one of the best ways to address youth unemployment and serves as a critical path to sustainable development” said Jenny Lind Elmaco, Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines.

Ms. Dalareich Polot, Grand Winner of the Young Women’s Entrepreneurs Bootcamp 2013 and Mr. Raymond Abrea, President of the Center for Strategic Reforms- Philippines (CSR-Philippines) were the guest speakers of the UBC.

Some of university officials headed by Dr. Stella Lezama, Dean of the College of Administration and Professor Josefina Alcano, Chairperson, Entrepreneurship Program also graced the occasion.

The activity was designed to enable the attendees to learn more about the steps involved and discover the many resources that are available to support them.

A full house audience was able to hear Mr. Abrea’s talk on the principles in starting up a business and its implications to our society while Ms. Polot shared her life journey as a young entrepreneur in Bohol province.

“Doing business about touching lives. It is about having a grand vision and a day to day realizations” said Abrea.

Rising from humble beginnings Ms.Polot said that their business only started with five kilos of cacao but now producing eight tons per month.

In the afternoon, thirty of the most promising student-entrepreneurs got the chance to interact  and asked questions from the expert panelists.

The students were very thankful for the activity. One even said that “It was God’s answer to my prayer – motivation and inspiration”.

“ We are very grateful to your organization by making this event possible for our students. We hope that there will be another UBC next school year” said Prof. Alcano.

UBC is organized by SPARK! Philippines with funding from the U.S. Embassy Manila, November 13 for DMC College Foundation in Dipolog City (Mindanao),November 18 for Baliuag University (Luzon)

For more information on the project, contact Darren J. Gonzales, SPARK! Philippines Program Officer 0918 957 6309 / djgonzales2013@gmail.com, sparkphilippines2013@gmail.com