The Academy for Creating Enterprise was started 10 years ago by a BYU professor named Steve Gibson. While Steve was traveling in the Philippines, he was shocked to see so many returned missionaries living below the poverty level. In an effort to give these returned missionaries a future, Steve started the Academy for Creating Enterprise. The Academy is an intensive 8-week training program that teaches the students how to start their own business. Since its inception, the Academy has graduated over 2000 students and over 80 percent of the graduates have started their own successful businesses/hold full-time jobs that provide for their families. Upon graduation, the graduates are paired with one of 25 Alumni Association chapters that provide ongoing mentoring, networking, and training. The Academy has branched out and now provides night classes for those who cannot afford to leave their home for two months (i.e. stake presidents, bishops, etc.). The Academy is also opening locations in Mexico and Brazil and its curriculum is used world-wide by various programs. Our hope is that the Academy will one day be able to reach impoverished returned missionaries all over the world. For further involvement with the Academy for Creating Enterprise please see our website: Creatingenterprise.org
