#MEET Language and Entrepreneurship Capacity Building
This is a short interview we conducted with Jacmen Kouakou, the creator of Language and Entrepreneurship Capacity Building. If you like this project and would like to vote for it, click here
1. Please, tell us a bit about yourself: where are you from and what is your background?
I am Jacmen Kouakou from Cote d´Ivoire , I am 32 Years old. I graduated from the English language department of Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Cote d´Ivoire. I have also got practical knowledge on administrative works. My current position as an Administrative Manager in an international company allows me to build partnerships, and facilitate relationships with various stakeholders; including government officials, suppliers, and subcontractors. Besides, I have more than eight (8) years of experience teaching English, providing (English-French) translation and interpretation services to corporates, institutions and international organizations including the United Nations as a UN Online Volunteer Translator since 2012. I am passionate about entrepreneurship, youth capacity building and advocating for good governance and democracy. I am an Alumnus of the YALI - Young African Leaders Initiative, program settled by former US President Barack Obama to develop the leadership skills of sub-Saharan young people, at the end the 5 weeks training in the YALI Leadership center of Dakar I got certification in Business & Entrepreneurship management. I also participated in an international program called Canvassity, a program by Youngsters Foundation, supported by NED (National Endowment Democracy USA) for young leaders to engage elected representatives and governments in Good governance and democracy. I actually reconcile my current work and my entrepreneurship life.
2. Can you describe your idea or project in two sentences?
The project aims at reinforcing the English language and entrepreneurship skills of the people.This project targets all generations and also illiterate populations.
3. How did you get your idea or concept?
My idea came out of various experiences I acquired from teaching in some English language centers, from my friends who missed some opportunities because they do not master English language and also young entrepreneurs who fail to set up their business because they do not have the minimum skills to lead an enterprise. So I founded JC English Training Corporation (JCETC) to help those people with new methods of delivering a unique service to accelerate their English and entrepreneurship skills.
4. What is unique about your idea/project and how does it benefit mankind?
As I said previously in this form, I taught the English language in many languages centers before founding JCETC. I remarked that these centers did not have a monitoring service after the learners finished their courses, so in a maximum 2 months, they forget what they have learned in these centers. So what is unique about JCETC project is that we have a free of charge service that still follows up the learners even when they have finished their training time. This to help them keep track of the English language. Unlike many language centers, we are also planning to teach the English language to the illiterate populations.
5. Describe yourself as an entrepreneur in one sentence
I am a focus, patient and courageous Entrepreneur capable to go beyond obstacles
6. How do you deal with people that doubt your abilities/initiatives?
I know my dream is big, so many people doubt my abilities to reach it when I explain to them my vision. I neither blame nor talk to them harshly, I always take it easy because the only person to strongly believe in my dream is myself. As an answer to their doubt, I work hard to develop my projects. Fortunately, In the last 2 years, I can feel that some people now believe that the dream is achievable.
7. Where does your passion lie?
My passion lies in training and coaching people to develop their English language and Entrepreneurship skills
8. What are you afraid of or what keeps you up at night?
Sometimes I can keep up at night for hours, thinking where I can get the funding to develop my projects.
9. According to you, money is a synonym for.....
For me, money is a synonym for supporting the efforts of a person
10. If you could rid the world of three things, what would they be?
It would be poverty, injustice, and corruption
11. What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?
I benefit many skills from Entrepreneurship Campus through the online courses. For example, I learned how to shape a concept, this course allowed me to craft again to refine my project. The Campus members also helped me to redesign my project suggesting me new ideas and services to enrich it.
12. What do you like more about the Entrepreneurship Campus?
What I like more is the many constructive feedbacks from the campus members on my project.
13. Which idea/project do you like most?
Daniel Obregon's project on ''Anti-Corruption Software: All Government Purchases will be traceable and auditable. More transparency''
14. Please, include a link to a video if you have one
https://www.youtube.com/embed/wjMdKhhfjEU
NOTICE: If you want to see more submitted ideas and projects at the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, visit BEST IDEAS and BEST PROJECTS and VOTE for the ones you think deserve to WIN the Competition!
