YES Client Gets National Award
Benjamin (Royalz) Kwofie, a client of YES’ BizStart Program, is the winner of the 2010 Success in Self-Employment Award from Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI).
Success in Self-Employment Award
Honours an aspiring entrepreneur who defied the odds to become a successful business owner, with the help of a self-employment program developed by SEDI or by a SEDI community partner.
Winner: Benjamin (Royalz) Kwofie, Toronto, Ont.
A troubled teenager from a broken home, Benjamin (Royalz) Kwofie turned his life around after his mother passed away. He decided to channel his grief and anger into becoming a fashion designer. At age 23, Benjamin was living on his own, working night shifts and sleeping only a few hours a day while developing his clothing line. His determination paid off. In 2009, Royalz Wear became the first Canadian fashion line to be included in the Latino Fashion Week in Chicago. His work has gotten the attention of Governor General Michaëlle Jean and prominent hip hop artists. He praises organizations such as the Remix Project and Youth Employment Services YES, a SEDI community partner, for his success. He is currently sharpening his entrepreneurial skills and refining his business operations with the help of YES’ BizStart program.
For more information about the 2010 SEDI Awards, please visit www.sedi.org/sediawards.