18-year-old Kyle McMahon has just returned from Vienna, Austria, after representing Ireland in a competition that saw him up against Europe’s most talented and recognised young entrepreneurs. ‘Kyle’s Wood Crafts’ was one of just 12 businesses from across Europe scrutinised by the judges. Kyle secured a place at the NFTE European Business Plan Competition having won Ireland’s ‘Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ back in May. Although he wasn’t placed first in the European competition, Kyle’s skills and business acumen were highly praised by the judges.

The young father from Coolock in Dublin, has turned his life around and has become a business entrepreneur against all the odds. At the age of just 15 he was expelled from school and his prospects seemed poor. He says his life changed after being introduced to the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Programme which is run by Foróige; “Before NFTE, I was nervous and didn’t have much confidence. Now I can stand up and speak in public and for the first time I really know what I want in life.”

Kyle will showcase his latest wooden toys at the highly prestigious National Crafts and Design Fair in Dublin’s RDS today, 2nd December 2011. The annual event is the country’s largest celebration of crafts with Ireland’s most respected craftspeople taking part. Meanwhile the head of the Foróige operated Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Programme (NFTE) has been speaking about the importance of supporting innovation. NFTE Programme Manager Maria Doherty says;

“Our vision is that every young person will find a pathway to prosperity regardless of their backgrounds and teaching entrepreneurship is the key to achieving this.”

For further information please contact:

Jerome Hughes, Foróige Media Officer

086 197 4392 / 01 630 1734