Future Entrepreneurs Foundation

• Morning News Article                                
  The Future Entrepreneurs Foundation envisions today's youth as tomorrow's business, civic and community leaders.

Nanaefua Eshun, president and CEO of Future Entrepreneurs Foundation, said she started the organization with the idea of helping youth reach their potential as future businessmen and women.

“Children have always been on my heart,” Eshun said. “I received my master's in social work at USC and started as a volunteer with other nonprofits working in the school district. To be able to work in the schools and give the kids a vision for how to start their own business and develop them to be ready for the career of their dreams; that’s why I started Future Entrepreneurs Foundation.”

The organization provides an opportunity for students to have one-on-one mentorship with business leaders in the community, as well as ask questions and be involved in community service.

Eshun said being able to go into the classroom and have the students talk with and ask questions of local businessmen and women is what makes a difference in her program.

“I have noticed that to be able to get more of our students engaged, coming into the classroom is more beneficial,” Eshun said. “It’s a great way to work with them in a smaller setting and really help develop their business plans and goals. They get real-life hands-on experience.”

“The Future Entrepreneurs Foundation has allowed me to be able to connect with other businesses and help spread the word to our business leaders about what’s going on with our youth.”

Eshun believes it is important to mentor youth on career development, especially while they’re in high school.

After high school, they do have to have a plan in place for what their next step is,” Eshun said. “Preparing them for the career development and engaging them in field trips and through speakers is really important. I think that this is something they definitely need and the community needs to know that our children are our future.”

For Eshun, the most rewarding part of being able to invest in youth is seeing them grow and succeed in what they set out to do.

“We need to reach out to the youth as they are coming up,” Eshun said. “It makes me really proud to be able to reach out to our youth and provide them with the tools they need.