Archbishop Dr Deloris Seiveright was born in Jamaica, and has been in Canada since 1969. She is the founder, president and Archbishop of Shouters National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith (NESBF)/Canada and Overseer, since 1988, for the Archdiocese, which comprises five churches. She became Archbishop in 1996, and is co-founder of St. Fredric’s Cathedral.

Community Activities: Introduced a youth mentorship program and special project for older persons, in 1999; operates a summer career placement for youth; launched a scholarship fund in 2000-2002; Started a Crime prevention program for youth in July of 2002 as well as a youth Entrepreneur program in October of 2002. As a teacher, preacher and motivator, she speaks at seminars, conferences, and workshops about Spiritual Baptists and everyday community issues. She also serves on many community organizations and provides counseling for those men, woman and children in need.

Honors: Service Award, NESBF/Trinidad & Tobago, 2001; Racial Harmony, City of Toronto, 2000; ACAA (African Canadian Achievement Award), 1999; Appreciation award from board of directors of Shouters 1998 and Hon. Doctorate, St Andrew Theology, UK, 1997.

Works: Authored a hymnal, Hymnal & Trumpets, 2001; book of devotions, Thoughts and Prayers from the Heart, 2001; CD, Rhythm for the Soul.

Education: BA, Religion. Education, Tyndale college, 1993; degrees in Theology London & Caribbean Academy, 1981; Business Admin, Ryerson Polytechnic, 1972.

Our Objective

The primary purpose of this project will provide a comprehensive business skills workshop
to 10 unemployed, at-risk youth for 44 weeks: provide like skills workshop and personal support to assist each participant to launch their own business: provide business services and ongoing workshops which are in addition to the project activities, during and after the project: the launch of 10 new businesses.

Our Goals

The goals of the Shouters Youth Entrepreneurship Project includes the following:
• Recruit 10 participants aged 16 to 30 years for 44 weeks
• Develop business plan and start up
• Legal and tax implications, financing, bookkeeping
• Facilitate the development of customer service and sales training
• Facilitate the development of market analysis
• Ensure each participant develops a business communication
• Ensure each participant develops a research techniques.
• Ensure each participant develops networking/advertising skills

Measureable Objectives 

Measurable objectives include the following:
• Completion of individual needs assessment
• Completion of the training and coaching
• Completion of business plan
• Completion of self-assessment and continuation of business
• Completion of skills implemented

Expected Outcomes

The project provides training in:

• Business skills, leadership skills and opportunities for solid business
• Orientation on traditional and alternative sources of financing from representatives of financial institutions
• Education on the operating environment for business from representatives of government agencies
• Development of a business plan and action plan for its implementation
• Practical business knowledge gained through business experience such as:

1) Marketing/Market Research – Targeting specific markets, developing a market “niche”etc. Developing a marketing strategy. Learning to understand the “ins and outs” of marketing and how a successful economy must be “market driven”, not just product or manufacturing driven.

2) Communication Skills – Business communication skills, sales training, letter writing, learning to negotiate, presenting oneself, literacy skills and basics such as reading and writing for less educated participants. “English as a second language” for related business communications are emphasized.

3) I.T. (Information Technology) – We do place emphasis on computer skills, however, this is not the major thrust of our workshop. An understanding of the Internet is valuable as well as the move toward “E-Marketing”, “E-Business” and “E-Commerce”. The Internet is presented as a valuable marketing and research tool.

4) Accounting/Bookkeeping – The bookkeeping we teach is along “user friendly” practical lines, not sophisticated software accounting packages. Entrepreneurs need to learn to track sales, keep records, issue receipts, project sales and revenues and collect on outstanding invoices.

5) Customer Service – Customer service is the corner stone of any business activity. We teach that you must “know your customer”, and “understand your customers”. We teach participants not only how to target customers, and reach, service and sell to them, but also how to retain them. It is hard to get a customer, but often times even harder to keep them. Customer retention is imperative. Customer loyalty techniques are taught.

6) Sales Workshop – Suggestion selling, up-selling, and multiple selling is taught. Presentation skills and also qualifying and “closing sales” are also taught.

7) Advertising – Basic advertising skills are established:

• The design of a name, logo, business card
• The design and production of flyers, brochures, posters, and any other literature relating to the entrepreneur’s business
• In the retail sector, retail entrepreneurs are taught how to design effective merchandise and sales of discount signage for store interiors. Print, newspaper and broadcast advertising is explained.

8) Business Law – The basic of business law is also an important component of entrepreneurial training. Again this market is specific to the Canadian market. However, it can be adapted to any other international market.

9) Business Plan Development – The overall umbrella and focus to our successful model of youth entrepreneurship training is that everything flows back under the all-encompassing umbrella of the business plan.

10) Youth Entrepreneurship – Skills and development assists youth in assessing their strengths and needs. We do not refer to liabilities as weakness but rather as needs, challenges, and opportunities. We do not accept failure! They may not be the results they have envisioned, and in fact they may be undesirable results at times (as we have all experienced in our lives and business). However, challenges must be viewed as opportunities. We teach people opportunity recognition. There is opportunity everywhere. The critical issue is perspective and attitude.