Children at MC Weiler Primary School put the theory of money and money management into practice to prepare themselves to become future entrepreneurs.
This was at the school’s entrepreneurship day for the Grade 7 economics class. The pupils formed groups and used posters to market their businesses in which they sold food.
The project was to be graded as part of the pupils’ school marks, and profits gained would be used for their farewell party.
The initiative was supported by BizKidzSA, a company owned by Robert Mtshali, a young Alex-born entrepreneur who wants to see the entrepreneur project introduced into all schools in the township. Orphaned at nine years old, Mtshali said he was inspired to support the initiative because he came from an impoverished childhood, as did many of the schoolchildren in Alex.
Mtshali believes these children have two options in life. “They can either be on the street and stealing in order to survive, or be educated and become entrepreneurs who contribute to their own financial independence and national wealth creation,” he said.
He added that he started his entrepreneurial journey by selling sweets and snacks which enabled him to grow and diversify to more profitable forms of business.
School principal, Flaki Ramothata, commended the initiative. “The pupils took advantage of their knowledge of the daily lives and needs of their communities to design and start mock businesses, in the process implanting entrepreneurship thinking which may encourage them to be entrepreneurs in future,” she said.
Teacher, Ntombi Mpanza, said the children had an opportunity to be mentored at weekend camps held by BizKidzSA where they were able to learn more about the business world.
A pupil who has participated in the camps, Sinah Doloane, said the experience had given her a business idea which she will nurture and, hopefully, pursue later in life.
Details: BizKidzSA 084 811 6916.
