Abstract:
Promoting entrepreneurship has been proven to have an impact on advancing economic
growth, creating job opportunities, and addressing socio-economic conditions. In a country
with high inequalities, low economic growth, and high unemployment more so amongst the
youth, entrepreneurship must be promoted and supported. Scholars and many countries in
Europe have adopted the introduction of entrepreneurship education to develop and create
entrepreneurial mindsets among young individuals. Multiple scholars have acknowledged
and found empirical evidence on the key role entrepreneurship education plays in positively
impacting entrepreneurial intentions and have acknowledged that entrepreneurial intentions
do not automatically lead to entrepreneurial actions (Audretsch et al., 2022; Doanh, 2021;
Gieure, 2020; Meoli et al., 2020; Zwane, 2023). However, the scholars also agree on the fact
that actions do not take place without intentions.
The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that hinder translation of entrepreneurial
intentions into entrepreneurial actions. To facilitate the data gathering and analysis process,
12 youth participants who attended entrepreneurship education programmes were
interviewed. The data was analysed into codes then into themes. The findings revealed that
the lack of societal trust, negative perceptions, economic uncertainty, and the fear of failure
were the key barriers that prevent the youth from pursuing entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial
role models, and networking enabled the participants that are pursuing entrepreneurship to
transition from intentions to actions.
