GALLERY: Devon Valley Centre hosts kids’ market

Despite pouring rain and chilly temperatures, pupils from Arrows of Destiny Christian Academy arrived at Devon Valley Centre, Weltevreden Park, on 5 September from 7.30am to set up their stalls as part of their entrepreneurship programme. The pupils had to hand in a business plan and give an oral report, and the fair formed the practical component of the programme.

Academy principal Jeanette Porter praised the initiative and said, “This project has been good for the pupils – they’ve had to work in teams, possibly with pupils they may not know very well, and they’ve had to make it work. The pupils will be able to keep their profits, so there is an incentive to do well.”

The pupils were judged on a number of factors, such as the appeal of their products, stall presentation, cleanliness, safety and client care. Marc Kobrin of Periscopic Masingita, the centre’s managing company, was the judge and added, “This project allows the pupils to have some real-world experience. Usually they have their fair at school where their friends can come support them but now they’re exposed to the public so they don’t know if their product will sell or if it’s correctly priced.”

The tenants at the centre received the pupils warmly with some of the businesses donating a number of gift vouchers as prizes.