Primary kids are enterprising

Elaine Grundy Elaine Bowers - 1635 • Published 20 Mar 2008 16:30 0 Comments

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WHEN it comes to closing business deals, Inverclyde"s schoolkids are learning fast. During a special enterprise showcase at Greenock Town Hall, every school in the district had stalls manned by youngsters who have been running their own profit-making companies over the past few months. ELAINE BOWERS visited the trading zone to find out more...

WITH Amie Forbes" management skills and Harris Akhtar"s ability to juggle figures, it seems highly likely pupils from Inverkip Primary will soon reach their target of raising £400 for poverty-stricken youngsters in Malawi.

Despite their tender years, Amie, who is in primary seven, and Harris, of P5, are already demonstrating a keen business sense shared by classmates Calum Yarr, Rachel Watt and Anna Robertson.

The youngsters recently represented their school at the annual enterprise showcase organised under the banner Determined to Succeed.

Amie, project manager for the Malawi fund-raising venture, said: 'We are trying to raise £10,000 for Malawi and we hope to get £400 from having an Africa day in our school.'

Africa Day will take place in the school on 4 April and the children plan to sell tickets at £2 a head. In the meantime, they are busy boosting funds by selling handmade African masks and sunset pictures.

Harris revealed everyone who wanted a job in the company had to make a formal application outlining their skills and reasons for wanting the job.

He secured the finance assistant"s title and thinks it will stand him in good stead. He said: 'I like maths and want to work with money when I leave school. We have been working on our project for a few months and had to do a market research questionnaire and get a business plan.'

The Inverkip youngsters have made T-shirts that feature pictures of themselves. Profits from their sale will be used to make tea towels, which will be sold to grandparents with the proceeds going to Malavi primary school in Malawi.

Over at St Ninian"s Primary, youngsters will present Bugsy Malone and are making merchandise to sell on performance nights.

Mairi Laing, 11, said: 'We are selling badges, hats and photographs.'

Each class at St Gabriel"s Primary has been working on a different enterprise project and there are now a few hundred pounds in the bank. The primary five youngsters made Easter gifts and a spring chicks cafe is scheduled for 2 April.

Knowing that farmers in poor countries have been given a fair price for their labour is important to the pupils of Greenock Academy.

Katie McNicol, 14, said: 'We had a Fairtrade stall in school with chocolate and we have cotton for PE T-shirts and aprons. We have raised £500 so far, and we hope to continue to trade. The profit will go to Fairtrade countries. We think everyone should get a fair trade.'

Rachel Boffey, 17, said nine of the sixth-year pupils had formed their own business, Scope, to help people not confident at using computers to sell unwanted items on eBay. The group has made £800 since August.

The enterprise showcase was presented by Overton pupils Sophi Binnie and James Barclay.

Sophi, who is in primary seven, said: 'I was really excited. I have been practising at home to learn all the difficult words.'

James, who is in P6, added: 'I wanted to present the showcase because it is a big part of Greenock. I can say I presented a showcase and I might get a better chance of getting a job. I would like to be the Prime Minister or the Provost - someone with power.'

More than 500 youngsters have taken part in enterprise projects recently and their efforts were praised by education boss Ian Fraser. He took to the stage wearing "party time" badges bought from children earlier in the evening. He also revealed he was the owner of a new piggy bank and pulled a leaflet from his pocket produced by pupils at St Kenneth"s Primary to promote Inverclyde.

Provost Michael McCormick said he had been "very impressed" by the efforts of all the schools.

Enterprise development officer Robert Lamb, the organiser, presented awards to pupils for outstanding achievement and to businesses that supported the youngsters in their projects.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 20 Mar 08

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