Unfortunately, our current education systems do not cater to this need. Schools are often focused on academic achievements without offering practical guidance in entrepreneurship or business management. As parents, community leaders, and activists, we need to step in and fill this gap. We must ensure our children are introduced to the entrepreneurial mindset early in life. This is especially important as poverty continues to be a pressing issue for African communities worldwide, including in the diaspora. Through entrepreneurship, we can create long-lasting solutions by empowering individuals to generate resources and opportunities for themselves and others.
A significant challenge in the African diaspora, particularly in Australia, is that
Many African-Australian parents face challenges in guiding their children in entrepreneurship due to busy work schedules and a lack of business skills. Navigating Australia’s complex business environment adds to these difficulties, making it hard for parents to provide practical support. This highlights the need for community-driven solutions to fill the gap.
Furthermore, many community leaders remain disconnected from this crucial aspect of community advancement. Their focus often revolves around cultural events, festivals, sports, entertainment, or assisting the most vulnerable. While these activities are valuable, there is an urgent need to integrate entrepreneurship into these settings. Too often, community leaders are more motivated to attend events and take photos with politicians, rather than advocating for long-term solutions like fostering business initiatives.
To truly uplift our communities, we must embrace the entrepreneurial spirit in everything we do. This means incorporating both the commercial and social aspects of entrepreneurship into our cultural and social practices. We need to guide them in translating this exposure into tangible skills—developing a growth mindset, self-leadership, business acumen, and ambition to achieve great things. By doing so, we will not only build stronger communities but also create future leaders who are capable of addressing challenges and driving progress.
In 2025 Afropreneurs will introduce an online program “Afrokidpreneurs 360” to help parents introduce their children to entrepreneurship thinking , guidance and support. Stay tuned!
Introducing African children to entrepreneurship at an early age is essential if we want to see long-term transformation within our communities. By teaching them the fundamentals of creating, managing, and scaling businesses, we foster a generation of leaders who are not only fluent in business language but also deeply understand the process of building enterprises. These future leaders will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to create economic opportunities, tackle unemployment, and improve livelihoods, both locally and globally.