NGU Apparel to help one young man get a head start in business | Popgen Tech

Never Give Up (NGU) Clothing, a Canadian international clothing brand, aims to support the youth economy in Saint Lucia by providing one child with an innovative business idea with the resources they need to start their business.

Owned by St. Lucian native Marshall Celestin, the brand will provide a child with $1,000 in seed funding, business registration and assistance with a business plan to get a viable business concept up and running.

Marshall believes that instilling entrepreneurship in children at an early age allows them to be more innovative and financially independent.

“I think it’s a great incentive to get kids to share their innovative ideas and do something they’re interested in that will help them become financially independent, because as a kid I wanted a lot of things, but financially I couldn’t afford it. That is why it is important that children have the opportunity to open their own business.”

“I believe that if I give a child the chance to turn his idea into reality, I have done my job in terms of contributing to growth and, most importantly, giving them the opportunity to realize their dream, because in these times it is very difficult to get finance or to force someone to believe in you to start your own business. I want to mentor them not only at the initial stage, but throughout the process as their business grows.”

Children between the ages of 10 and 16 living in Saint Lucia are eligible to participate in the initiative and must submit their business idea plan to nguclothing@gmail.com by January 9, 2023.

NGU Clothing intends to establish the “NGU Foundation” in Saint Lucia to help more adults and children, especially in Marshall Grace’s hometown of Vieux Fort. In recent years, the entrepreneur and his company have worked on numerous projects in Grace and Vieux-For-North in collaboration with various organizations and stakeholders.

“This is just the beginning. Next year we will launch our NGU fund, which will give us better access to help more young entrepreneurs, especially in Saint Lucia, where I was born, and expand it internationally. I’m starting with my homeland, because that’s where I started my business.”

“Since 2018, we have been sponsoring three children from Grace Unified School every year, donating food, partnering with the CARE Center, Banse Unified School and Belle Vue Unified School, providing students with scholarships. We also work in the Vieux-Fort North community and partner with various organizations to create a food bank. We will also be expanding our Feed and Learn program next year. We are currently working on a project in collaboration with several stakeholders in the Grace community to create a playground for the combined Grace School and community.”

The business grantee will receive the funds in January and will be personally coached and mentored by Marshall Celestin.