The PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center entrepreneurship support program, implemented by PRAKSIS for 4 years, and the Citi Foundation have renewed their effective cooperation until July 2019. The aim of the cooperation is to support at least 240 aspiring entrepreneurs, providing them with all the supplies and the tools they need to implement their business idea.
The Citi Foundation has been the sole sponsor for the PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center program since August 2016, as part of the Pathways to Progress Global Initiative, a three-year $ 100 million investment program with the voluntary contribution of 10,000 Citi employees, to support vocational training and employment of 500,000 young people worldwide to meet the challenges of today’s competitive labor market.
To date, the cooperation of the two organizations in Greece has contributed positively to the support of small and medium enterprises and the creation of jobs. Within a year and a half, 130 young entrepreneurs have received personalized consulting, business coaching and entrepreneurship training. The result is the creation of 49 new companies and 112 new jobs, while in the plans of entrepreneurs is the creation of an additional 144 jobs within the next 6 months.
The President of PRAKSIS, Mr. Alexis Margalias, acknowledging the importance of cooperation states: “The renewal of our cooperation with the Citi Foundation is valuable and crucial, especially for the development of PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center, so that it can offer an even higher level of services to people from socially susceptible and vulnerable groups, so that they can build a better tomorrow for themselves, their families and the wider community. So that they can put their ideas into practice “.
Mr. Emilios Kyriakou, Citi Country Officer of Greece and Cyprus, states: “Through the global initiative Pathways to Progress of the Citi Foundation, we remain committed to our goals for social contribution by continuing our support in building business mentality. In Greece, in particular, we facilitate the access of disadvantaged young people to educational programs, such as the award-winning Business Coaching Center of PRAKSIS. We believe that by offering equal opportunities for learning and education we help our young people to develop their talents, their business ideas and ultimately, to contribute to the prosperity of Greek society “.
More information about PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center
Since 2014, PRAKSIS has recognized that enhancing healthy entrepreneurship is a way out for many people facing social or economic exclusion. Thus, the PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center entrepreneurship support program was created (information can be found HERE), an award-winning and intensive entrepreneurship promotion program that follows a holistic approach. The program concerns every kind of business, for every branch of the economy. It follows an customized and personalized approach and focuses on both counseling and training as well as coaching.
For a period of 4 months, without any financial burden, the aspiring entrepreneurs have successive one-on-one meetings with business consultants and business coaches and participate in business skills enhancement seminars implemented by leading market players such as Citi, Deloitte, Oriflame, KEMEL etc. From its inception until today, the program has been trusted and funded by distinguished organizations such as the Citi Foundation, the JP Morgan Foundation, Visa and the US Embassy in Greece.
Those interested can find more information and the application form at praksis.gr and on our Facebook page.
More information on the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative
The Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative, which has funded the PRAKSIS BCC since August 2016, involves a three-year, $ 100 million investment program and a voluntary contribution of 10,000 Citi employees aimed at supporting the vocational training and employment of 500,000 young people around the world who need to meet the challenges of the modern competitive labor market. It is an extension of an initial $ 50 million offer that supported more than 100,000 young people in ten US cities. The Pathways to Progress initiative aims to reduce youth unemployment in major cities around the world, improve the quality of the workforce by creating opportunities for first-time work, internships, vocational training and business skills development. At the same time, it presents the findings of a new global survey that demonstrates the high level of optimism of young people and the lack of opportunities and skills.
Attached: INFOGRAPHIC with the results of PRAKSIS Business Coaching Center
