If we want to create a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, what do we do? Langley Advance says it is time to give them the opportunity to learn how. The PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs program is helping get kids started.
PowerPlay challenges students to start their own businesses. They each identify a need in the marketplace and create a business plan to effectively market their product.
Then, they’re given a chance to sell their products at a Young Entrepreneur Show attended by the school community.
What caught my attention most about the description of these showcase session is the fact that after selling their wares, the kids must decide how to spend any profits, ensuring that a portion is donated to a charity of their choosing – that’s just good business practices and I’m elated to see it being fostered early in life.
“This program is important because it teaches us to be more independent and to make our own decisions.†That’s how one Grade 6er at Langley Meadows Community School described PowerPlay, which I’m told will be expanding to more local schools this September.
“PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs is a great opportunity for students to learn how to earn and manage their own money,†explains Susan Byrom, Envision’s manager of corporate citizenship.
“The program really empowers students to take ownership of their learning and helps them develop the skills and confidence they need for success in today’s changing economy.â€
Screenshot from PowerPlay