Empowering Mexican youth: from regenerative entrepreneurship bootcamp to MSc and egg enterprise success
Alicia participating in the Ayllu AgTech Bootcamp. ©FAO/Cristina Arancibia
18/03/2024
Meet Alicia, a passionate Mexican veterinarian deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. Her work in poultry farming isn't just a profession, it's a connection to her ancestors and a vital part of her community's identity. In a region dominated by industrial egg production, Alicia sees poultry farming as more than just a means of livelihood – it's the bond that unites her community, providing sustenance and stability in the face of inequality and adversity.
Despite the challenges her community faces in accessing innovative technologies, Alicia dreams of bridging this gap as she aspires to become a scientist. Her ambition is to bring cutting-edge knowledge and practices to her community, empowering them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. With a vision for eco-friendly entrepreneurship, Alicia seeks to revolutionize the traditional methods of poultry farming, creating a sustainable and successful business model that not only benefits her community but also contributes to a healthier planet. Driven by her ideas and fueled by her passion for positive change, Alicia sees herself not just as a veterinarian, but as a leader dedicated to shaping a brighter future for those around her.
Bringing her dreams and the aspirations of her community together, Alicia embarked on a transformative journey by joining the Ayllu Agtech Bootcamp, powered by FAO's Incubator programme ELEVATE. With a mission to create a regenerative enterprise, she recognized the potential of integrating Agtech solutions to address the pressing challenges faced by her community. Immersed in intensive training at the FAO Latin American and the Caribbean Regional Office for a week, Alicia delved into every aspect of business development. From defining the core problems her community faced to crafting a robust business model and refining her pitch to attract investors, she honed her skills and knowledge to bring her vision to life.
Participants were challenged to identify the root causes of the problems that their communities faced. Teamwork was also a key component of the bootcamp, facilitating the sharing of experiences throughout Latin America’s youth. ©FAO/Cristina Arancibia
When asked about her community, Alicia's eyes light up with a vision of a brighter, more sustainable future. She dreams of leveraging technology to transform her community into an eco-friendly haven, where solar panels and water collecting technology are commonplace. For Alicia, these innovations aren't just about modernizing infrastructure, they're about preserving the environment and ensuring a better quality of life for generations to come.
Alicia firmly believes in the power of the younger generation to drive real change in society. With unwavering faith in their potential, she envisions a community where the youth are empowered to break free from the status quo and embrace innovation. They won't merely follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, they'll pave new paths towards progress and prosperity.
For Alicia, the solution to her community's challenges isn't to be found elsewhere, it lies within their own collective strength and resilience. Across generations, they've sustained themselves through ingenuity and hard work. Now, as they face new obstacles, Alicia is determined to lead her community towards a future where self-sufficiency and progress go hand in hand. Those who choose to remain in the community won't just endure, they'll adapt and innovate, ensuring a sustainable legacy for generations to come.
After completing the bootcamp, Alicia envisions herself returning to her community with renewed purpose. She sees her egg entrepreneurship venture not just as a business but as a catalyst for growth and empowerment. By expanding her enterprise, she aims to create jobs and opportunities, especially for young women who may otherwise lack access to dignified employment. Through hard work and entrepreneurship, Alicia intends to uplift and empower her community, fostering economic independence and collective prosperity. Additionally, inspired by what she learned from the bootcamp, she plans to collaborate with other women in her community to establish a cooperative. Together, they'll implement standardized processes, add value to their products, and compete effectively in the market, ensuring sustainable growth and shared success for all.
Very early in the bootcamp Alicia became a leader of the Ayllu Community. ©FAO/Cristina Arancibia
Months after the bootcamp, Alicia's journey of growth and empowerment continues to unfold. Inspired by the transformative experience, she has embraced new opportunities to develop both professionally and as an entrepreneur. Enrolling in a master's degree programme focused on animal production signifies her dedication to expanding her knowledge and expertise in sustainable farming practices. This academic pursuit not only enriches her understanding of her field but also positions her as a leader in implementing innovative solutions within her community.
Simultaneously, Alicia remains deeply committed to nurturing her entrepreneurial ventures. Collaborating closely with her family, she resolutely invests in the expansion and enhancement of her egg business while diversifying her portfolio with the introduction of a new enterprise specializing in enriched animal feed. Through these endeavours, Alicia not only envisions economic prosperity for herself and her family but also aspires to create a positive impact on her community and beyond. Her actions exemplify a steadfast determination to contribute to a better world, where sustainable practices and entrepreneurial spirit converge to foster lasting change and prosperity for all.