Young entrepreneurs making sense out of cents
The Early Years Enterprise Challenge and Awards was held at The Birches Pre-primary school recently, featuring young learners from twelve pre-primary schools who developed and showcased their own small businesses during the 12-week challenge.
THIS year’s highlight of the final Early Years Enterprise Challenge and Awards held at Birches Pre-Primary School was the special appearance of 10-year-old entrepreneur Zoe Nagoor.
Zoe began her business journey at the age of four through the same programme, founding Business Buddies while still in pre-school.
Now running two businesses, Zoe has become a young mentor and role model.
As part of the ceremony, she was invited to make her own selection from the businesses on display and presented a special award to a team that inspired her.
The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of a three-year Early Years Enterprise Challenge Pilot.
On the day, 12 pre-primaries gathered to showcase the small businesses developed by their young learners during the 12-week challenge.
The event featured a vibrant Market Place where children aged three to six years demonstrated the entrepreneurial skills they had learnt, ranging from products designed from waste, teamwork and money management.
According to Scilla Edmonds who facilitates the Early Years Enterprise Challenge, the Market Day was the culmination of weeks of preparation and a celebration of the creativity, problem-solving and confidence these children had developed through Enterprise education.
Amonge Ngubo and Luthando Dlamini, were one of the 12 pre-primaries at the Early Years Enterprise Challenge and Awards ceremony.
Edmonds, working under Be Sustainably Yours, explained that the Early Years Enterprise Challenge is an initiative by Teach a Man to Fish, in collaboration with Be Sustainably Yours and supported by The Saville Foundation.
Key to success
“It has proven that children as young as three can grasp key entrepreneurial concepts when guided through practical, age-appropriate experiences.
“Beyond developing small businesses, the programme nurtured essential life skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and confidence, laying a strong foundation for future learning and success,” said Edmonds.
Among the 12 pre-primary schools was Icebolenkosi Creche from Pietermaritzburg.
The learners came with fresh vegetables from the school’s garden.
Principal Phindile Msani said they were honoured to be part of the programme and to work closely with Edmonds.
“We have heard wonderful things in the past about the Early Years Enterprise Challenge. Unfortunately, we missed it last year, so we were very happy to take part this year,” she said.
Msani added that the children learned about the importance of money and developed their communication skills as young entrepreneurs.
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