BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LAST Friday’s (Mar. 30) Junior Achievement trade fair gave ample proof that if youth are given opportunities to be part of constructive programmes they will be able to excel.
The idea to stimulate students’ awareness of entrepreneurship as a viable option for their future was introduced to the secondary schools in 2004, with the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) leading this effort. Over the years, partnership with key financial institutions including First Caribbean International Bank and the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, and with the mentorship provided by teachers and parents, students are immersed into a practical business.
With the support of their schools, students sell shares to raise start-up capital, operate the business with an organized business structure and prepare for the programme’s culmination in a trade fair. The business is then liquidated at the end of that financial period and students are able to enjoy the benefits of their hard work.
Though students walk away from the dissolved company with a sum considerably greater than a week’s allowance, the thriving entrepreneurial spirit is not driven by profits. Rather, students sacrifice much to learn more about business and become empowered for new possibilities.
Aspiring architect at the Washington Archibald High School Akil Primus told SKNVibes that the Junior Achievement programme has given him a taste of the work of an entrepreneur. He explained that although challenges presented themselves from time to time, the benefit of learning time management, personal skills and setting up a business, made the venture worthwhile.
“I believe [the Junior Achievement programme] can have a real impact to encourage us to go into business because it teaches you a lot. I think other groups should come out and try it. I would tell anybody to come on out; it’s a lot of fun and once you get to know how the business operates, you will have a great time,” he said.
While Primus has no intention to stand behind a counter and sell air-brushed T-shirts, designed hand bands and stationary as he did on Friday, he said the experience throughout the entire project is enough to guide him into preparing and managing his own business. The event has proven a worthy cause for the insight Primus received by running ‘Beautiful Creations’.
“Entrepreneurship for young persons is very important because some people are still working for others. But, you could be a young person, come up, have your own business and have people working for you,” he added.
At Charlestown Secondary School, the experience was equally rewarding. The students there began their business by identifying a need at school and offering various products to meet them. Hand-crafted adjustable flex stands for typing and computer covers dominated their display, while smaller plastic and canvas name tags and cubes added much colour to the booth.
CEO and Principles of Business Major Mario Phillip told SKNVibes that the programme taught him to cooperate with different people and listen to their ideas so the business could function smoothly. He said that this year’s Junior Achievement programme has given him the motivation and confidence to give entrepreneurship a try.
“We don’t normally think alike, so there are a lot of difficulties but we all learn to work around them in order to do our best. And we have done well so far.... It gives me much motivation to go on and do even bigger things. After working this hard, we can do anything!
“Entrepreneurship is very important because unlike big offshore companies, most of the entrepreneurs stay here, they live here and do business in the tough times and the good times. These are the businesses that make the country go forward.”
Phillip’s dream is to become a psychologist, but when given such an opportunity to lead and learn in business, he said he would take advantage of it and apply the information however he can.
Motivated by simple ideas that may have long-lasting effects, the Lyn Jeffers School organized a compilation of Caribbean recipes utilizing only local foods. The 31-page ‘Naturally Yummy’ promotes healthier lifestyles and reduction in the nation’s food import bill. It was a simple project that CEO Tanica Fernandes grew to enjoy.
“I have always been a shy person, so being in the business helped me to open up and talk to people. It taught me a lot of about managing my time and my house as well. At first, I did not want to get involved but my teacher pushed me and I took the opportunity. It really inspires me that someday I would get a business of my own,” said the fourth form business executive.
Fernandes was inspired to start a cafe and while the details of that next step remain in the pipelines, she has already begun preparing herself mentally for launching into business. As attractive as these business opportunities are, Fernandes stressed that “we are losing a lot of the young people from the business stream”.
“Entrepreneurship is very important and young people should really look at how they can benefit. No matter what you want to go into... even if you want to go into Biology, you can still use the knowledge from JA to help you manage your own business,” she said.
Basseterre High’s Jaleel Boyles, one of the leaders in ‘Cards R Us’ said even the simple business opportunity to make and sell greeting cards for special events taught him a great deal.
He said he learned how to manage money and how to work along with others in order to have the best business. The feeling he got from the Junior Achievement programmes is best represented in his quote: “It’s cool; it’s really alright... because I can make my own money and I’m not getting myself into any trouble or anything like that.”
The success of Verchilds High’s ‘Handy Dandy’ operation came as a rewarding result of hard work and personal sacrifices. The company was able to market gift baskets with baby care products and toiletries and pulled many of the students to one common cause. However, CEO Lescelia Francis said if she had a chance to do it again, she would avoid it. After the Junior Achievement trade fair on Friday, she realized that entrepreneurship was not for her.
“Sometimes I get upset because I am the only one who wants to do something and the other persons don’t want to do anything. I learned how to manage my money and make sure that it is secured, but that’s just too much stress,” Francis told SKNVibes.
She cautioned that people with interest in entrepreneurship must have genuine love for their business idea, be very patient and be willing to make serious sacrifices for the good of the business.
Divya Kirpalani of ‘Vivacious Movers’, a product of the St. Theresa’s Convent High, responded to the challenges of business in a different way.
“I can honestly say that it has been really hard. It has been challenging, but overall it’s been rewarding. It’s taught me how to manage people and how to interact with people; it gave me an invaluable experience,” the ambitious CEO noted.
Vivacious Movers was one of the only booths to offer both goods and services in the form of gift baskets, fashion jewelry, face paintings and nail art.
CEO Kirpalani has plans of pursuing a medical career, but she stated that every student must “value every experience” irrespective of career choice. She explained that business management can be applied in almost every field, adding that she felt good to be on the side of positive social change.
“I feel extremely good to have brought lots of people into this business because it keeps people from straying off into bad activities. Entrepreneurship is a very good thing, especially with how our community is going to such a bad state. It is really good to have a positive influence in society,” she said.
Undoubtedly, the Junior Achievement programme is cultivating a new entrepreneurial spirit and guiding students to a better understanding of business operations. In the words of former Minister of Education Hon. Sam Condor, the project must be regarded as an “irreplaceable catalyst for the early introduction of business practices with its unique ingredient of hands-on experience”.
