Washington Archibald High hailed JA ‘Company of the Year’

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Six months of hard work in small business management proved to be a rewarding stint for the Washington Archibald High School (WAHS) earning it the Junior Achievers’ (JA) Company of the Year title at a special awards ceremony held yesterday (Oct. 29) at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).   

The project, jointly organized by ECCB and Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), serves to educate youth about business management and encourages entrepreneurial development. It has also birthed small developing businesses and growing partnerships from the exposure received.

After claiming prizes for the Best Business Plan, Best Trade Fair Display, Best Financial Report and Highest Profit, it was obvious that the WAHS would be the school to snatch the winning title and one year’s bragging rights from last year’s winner, the Charlestown Secondary School. The Cayon High School was also acknowledged for making the highest return on equity for their small business.

WAHS’ project- ‘Simply Kreative Inc.’- started in mid October as a small business initiative selling ‘Bottles of Love’ gift baskets, jewellery boxes, Valentine Day baskets and hand-crafted key rings. However, after selling over EC$ 300 worth of shares, and after having a special take-out dinner, the company blossomed further, making a profit of well over EC $3,000.

~~Adz:Right~~Vice president of the business Patrick Walters thanked Dahlia Hutson, Hilton Bonaparte and Keneisha Flemming for their invaluable leadership in the project. He said the project benefited all of the students greatly and gave them an opportunity to be self-employed. He added that although it was not carried out on a long-termed basis, it was an ideal learning experience.

“We experienced the working world. We got tips from established businesses and they all pointed us in the right direction. It is a big difference from studying Principles of Business or Accounts in schools because you not only get the theory but you also actually get a chance to apply what you already know; you actually see tangible results,” he told SKNVibes.com

He attributed their success to hard work and quipped that it had been not all ‘smooth sailing’.  CIC representative Betty-Anne Gilbert explained that the purpose of Junior Achievement project is to develop young entrepreneurs in

St. Kitts-Nevis, targeting students from 3rd and 4th forms in the secondary schools. She added that a major expectation of the project is the empowerment of students so that they eventually become their own employers and not necessarily job seekers.

“We have had pretty good responses from the students in St. Kitts and Nevis for the last four years. Participants learn how to run a business, deal with people, team work, conflict resolution, and time management. So it is important that as young adults going into the workforce or going into their own business that they get an idea or a better sense of what to expect.”