Lizbeth's entrepreneurial leap

Lizbeth, 28, stands in front of shelves lined with brightly coloured toys and games for children. This is the inventory for Playlab, the online toy business she created and launched as a participant in the Youth Ready program in Peru's La Libertad region. On August 21, World Entrepreneur Day, we get to praise the tenacity of people like Lizbeth.

Goodbye to fear and perfectionism

As a mother to a four-year-old son, Farid, Lizbeth knows the importance of high-quality educational toys. She’s also learned firsthand the challenges of business with its ups and downs and occasional roadblocks. With support from the program, Lizbeth shares that she has learned to set aside some perfectionist tendencies and persevere.

“My life has changed a lot since I [joined] the Youth Ready project,” says Lizbeth. “I went through many difficult situations before. I was very submissive, and I cried a lot. I had low self-esteem. I felt I could not move forward.”

Now, Lizbeth says, she knows what she is worth.

“I know where I want to go. I have dreams and goals. I am more determined. I no longer have the fear I had before.”

Practical education and a helping hand

Through Youth Ready, a program supported by the Barrett Family Foundation, Lizbeth completed a degree in business marketing. She was able to apply her education practically, problem-solving her way through the growing pains of a new business. Her goal is to move from a virtual-only sales model to having a physical store as well. A larger toy company has even expressed interest in selling her products.

“I thank the Youth Ready project because it changed my life and my way of thinking. It gave me a light at the end of the tunnel. I gained a lot with this project,” says Lizbeth. “I gained friendships and very good advice. I learned I will always have someone to give me a hand. There are very good hearts. Thank you, Youth Ready.”

Did you know? World Vision Canada trains over 66,000 people every year with skills to improve their livelihoods—more than double the student body of Queen’s University.