On March 22, 2024, Aide et Action Vietnam (AEA – soon to become Action Education) coordinated with the Center for Research on Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED) to organize the Launching Ceremony of the “Business Initiative Challenge 2024” competition, sponsored by the European Union (EU), French Development Agency (AFD), L’Oreal, and AEA.

After three years of implementation, the Business Initiative Challenge has become a useful playground, the most anticipated event in the young startup community. This year’s contest targets young women or groups of young people between the ages of 18 and 35, living, studying and working in Hoa Binh province (Da Bac district) and Lao Cai (Bac Ha district, Bac Ha district). Sa Pa, Lao Cai city), has a startup idea consistent with the local orientation, strengths and development goals, contributing to solving socio-economic and environmental problems, creating jobs spot for local youth.

Hoang Thi Hoan – participant of the 2022 Business Initiative Challenge – shared at the ceremony

🌻 Sharing her experience of her startup journey with support from the previous phase’s AEA project, young female Hoang Thi Hoan from Muc Thai Nien Grapefruit Cooperative, Lao Cai province shared: “Please submit yout idea. You may win a prize or not. But what’s more important than receriving the prize is that you receive training, you change your thinking, and you participate in the Business Incubator for ethnic minority youth. You will learn a lot and grow very quickly.”
💥 The launching ceremony received a lot of attention, lively exchanges and questions sent to the Organizing Committee from participating delegates who were young women from Sa Pa town, Bac Ha district and Lao Cai city. Questions were answered on the spot, ensuring that delegates understood correctly and fully and confidently submitted their proposals to participate in the competition.

✅The competition will take place from March to June 2024, including 3 rounds: preliminary (April 20, 2024 – April 29, 2024), semi-finals (June 10, 2024) and finals ( June 30, 2024). Ideas can be submited from March 7, 2024 – April 15, 2024.
🌈Interested young people can follow and update information about the competition on the Facebook page of Aide et Action Vietnam and the Facebook page of Aide et Action Business Incubator: https://www.facebook.com/vuonuomdoanhnghiepaea
and send your proposed ideas according to the Organizing Committee’s form to the address: thachthucsangkientinhdoanh@gmail.com
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📍 The Business Initiative Challenge 2024 Competition is under the framework of the Project “Promoting career and business development for youth and women” in Lao Cai and Hoa Binh provinces is carried out with the purpose of encouraging Ethnic minority youth (EMs), especially young women aged 18-35, build and implement local start-up initiatives, thereby developing livelihoods and increasing income. The contest is part of a series of activities to support young people starting businesses, with a total value of prizes up to nearly 2 BILLION VND.