School Enterprise Challenge
Winners announced for the School Enterprise Challenge 2012
In 2012, Teach A Man To Fish ran the School Enterprise Challenge for the second year to an overwhelming response. This global educational competition saw over 800 schools register and a variety of businesses developed, including party planning, arts and crafts and beekeeping, giving the judges a difficult task deciding on winners. Click on the links below to see their final decisions:
Registration Now Open for the Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge 2013
Following the success of last year's competition, Teach A Man To Fish are pleased to announce our partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society and Ashoka to launch the…
Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge 2013
The competition is open to all formal educational institutes in any country around the world. This is a fantastic opportunity to generate additional income for your school and by entering you stand a chance of winning a share of over USD $40,000 worth of prizes - including a top prize of USD $5000!
Schools do not have to start on a large scale to stand a good chance of winning; we want schools to start enterprises with whatever resources they can get their hands on. Recycle waste materials from the community into beautiful jewellery, set up a school garden and sell your produce, create a theatre company and put on shows in nearby towns - it doesn't have to take a lot to get started, just some entrepreneurial creativity!
Get Involved: For your chance to get involved in this great competition and fill in the competition application form - click here!
Find Out More: To find out more about the Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge 2012, visit the competition website at www.schoolenterprisechallenge.org.
School Enterprise Challenge 2012 Winners
Top Global Prize Winner - $5000
The global winner is the school that produced the best 'all-round' business, from the planning stage to the final narrative report. They also impressed the judges by considering all three of the 'People, Profit & Planet' criteria. This year the prize goes to:
DLF Public School, India
Business: Selling arts and crafts
Students at DLF Public School in Ghaziabad, India launched their own school-based enterprise in September 2012. After conducting comprehensive market research, the students concluded that environmentally friendly craft products would be the most successful business.
DLF Public School really embraced the ideas of ‘People, Profit, and Planet’. The students have used the business to help their community by donating 50% of their profits to a local charity, paying for education, food and clothes for 25 underprivileged children. The business made a profit of $ 1,018 in their first four months of trading, and by investing 25% of these profits into marketing and advertising; the students have ensured the business’ growth.
Environmental sustainability was a key part of their business as they used natural raw materials and recycled materials during the production process; they also used recycled newspapers and cards when packaging their products.
From this experience students have gained practical business knowledge that can supplement their academic studies. The business has embedded the spirit of cooperation in students, as well as inspiring them to start their own social enterprises. It has also benefited the school community by uniting students and teachers. The students plan to develop their business by selling products wholesale to local businesses and increasing the number of students involved.
“It [the competition] encouraged students to collaborate among themselves and come out with ideas of setting up their own stalls ….. In a nutshell this whole exercise ignited the flame of entrepreneurship among them.” Teacher, DLF Public School.
People, Profit & Planet Prize Winners - $2500 each.
• People Prize: For the enterprise deemed to have had the highest level of impact on the community that surrounds it.
• Profit Prize: For the most profitable enterprise. Original level of investment were taken into consideration.
• Planet Prize: For the enterprise with the best environmental credentials. The winning enterprise had a demonstrably positive effect on its local environment.
People: Vidyadhiraja High School, India
Business: Manufacturing incense sticks
Students at Vidyadhiraja High School in Mumbai, India started their business manufacturing and selling agarbatti. Agarbatti are hand-rolled incense sticks that are extremely popular in India for medicinal, religious and decorative purposes. As they had little money for start up capital the students sold paper pens that they made from waste paper, and used the profits to buy materials for the agarbatti business. The business fits the ‘People’ criteria because the students chose to act as entrepreneurial ambassadors for their community, giving workshops to underprivileged women and using profits from the business to buy a manufacturing machine to donate to the special educational cell. The business was very successful in its first four months generating a total of $412 dollars, a very impressive profit considering their start-up total was only $13!
“The challenge definitely helped the students in inculcating values like dignity of labour, hard work, cooperation, self-reliance, inter-personal skill, marketing techniques and much more at this tender age” Teacher, Vidyadhiraja High School
Profit: Indeco Community School, Zambia
Business: Manufacturing bags, school uniforms and rearing chickens
In 2011 students and teachers at Indeco Community School, near Livingstone in Zambia started a business making bags and affordable school uniforms for the local community. They used the profits to install electricity at the school which dramatically improved the students’ education. For this they were awarded the ‘People’ Prize.
In 2012 Indeco Community School decided to diversify their business and used a percentage of the previous year’s profits as start-up capital for a chicken rearing business. The businesses has continued to benefit the community by employing nine full time staff, with additional staff taken on during busy periods. The students and teachers have also acted an inspiration to their community by giving training and motivational workshops. This year the combined businesses generated a total net profit of $27,000! They are already developing their business for the future, building a permanent structure for the chickens and expanding the school uniforms business to the capital Lusaka.
“The pupils ...have been able to see that the work they have done, and all the challenges they faced in the first year of start up have been worthwhile and they are able to see how successful they have been. From this, in sharing their experiences with other it has meant that they can empower those around them” Headteacher, Indeco Community School
Planet: Ilowala Secondary School, Tanzania
Business: Organic beekeeping
Ilowala Secondary School from Njombe Region in Tanzania launched a beekeeping enterprise producing organic honey. As they did not have the funds available to purchase new beehives, they used left over timber from the schools construction project and asked parents to contribute a small amount of money. The business met the ‘Planet’ criteria because beekeeping helps the environment by organically enhancing crop production in neighbouring farms. This not only helped the farmers, but discouraged them from destroying neighbouring forests and damaging the habitat of the many animals that live there. The students’ education also benefited as teachers were able to link the topics they study in the classroom, such as insect pollination or the lifestyle of insects, with real life activities of the business.
“Now these students can start these projects at home and be able to earn some money while they are at the school” Teacher, Ilowala Secondary School
Regional Prize Winners - $2000 each
Africa : Community Secondary School Amansea, Nigeria
Business: Manufacture and sale of beauty and cleaning products
Community Secondary School Amansea launched their business to over 400 members of the community, including students, parents and local officials, in November 2012. Despite electricity shortages, students managed to work collaboratively with teachers to produce soap, air fresheners, body cream and cleaning bleach. In only a few months the business generated over $4000 in profits, a percentage of which has been used to renovate dilapidated buildings. In 2013 students plan to diversify their business and add tie-dye materials to their growing list of trades.
Asia Pacific: Kadvibai Virani Kanya Vidyalay (KVKV) School, India
Business: School canteen selling healthy food The students at KVKV School discovered from their market research that many students were underweight due to lack of affordable healthy food. The students decided to solve this problem by starting their own stall selling healthy food at a low cost. The ‘hands on’ experience of managing their own business was a great way for students to use the skills learnt in their food preparation and housekeeping classes to generate additional income for their school. The school has used the profits to support the students education and buy computer equipment.
Europe: Lori Regional State College, Armenia
Business: Growing and selling herbs
Lori State Regional College started their school-based business to give their students a real business experience that could supplement their trade, marketing and management classes. They learnt from their experience in the 2011 competition and used market research to determine the most popular products. As well as furthering their business skills, this experience has given the students “soft skills” such as public speaking, confidence and a sense of independence. On speaking with the community, students realised the positive role they can have inspiring others in their area. The school has used the profits generated to pay for fees and stationary for deprived students.
Latin America: Escuela Concertada Solaris, Peru
Business: Growing vegetables for jams and pickles
The judges were so impressed by students at Escuela Concertada Solaris they decided to award them both the Stage One and Stage Two prize.
The students launched their business in April 2012 and planted 1000 rococo plants around the school. Rococo is a type of traditional Peruvian spicy pepper. With care and attention, the plants flourished, bringing much needed greenery to the arid Atacama Desert.
The students ensured their business was environmentally friendly by using recycled bottles and jars to package their jam and pickles and using only organic fertilizers. From running their own business, the students have learnt perseverance and gained in confidence, preparing them for life beyond the classroom. The business generated an impressive $851 of income in 2012, 70% of which has been reinvested in the business. The students are already working hard to grow their business, taking trips to the local city to sell their goods to urban, wealthier customers.
Business Development Prize - $2000
This prize is awarded to the best school that has entered the competition for the second or third time, and in doing so, developed their business.
The Heritage School, India
Business: Mushroom cultivation Students at The Heritage School, Kolkata started their own business growing and selling mushrooms in an ecologically friendly way. They used their business to help the environment by growing mushrooms on waste that local farmers would normally burn, and they recycled all their own rubbish, resulting in them winning the ‘Planet Prize’ in 2011.
In 2012, the students decided to develop their business by involving members of the local community in the production process. Community members were not only able to learn about mushroom cultivation, but also earned an income from their work. The students also improved their preservation and pest control procedures, resulting in better quality mushrooms for sale. For the future, students want to produce their own mushroom seeds, to reduce costs, and construct a permanent pit that can be used during production. They also wish to register the business as a co-operative society and hold fundraising events to increase funds.
Business Plan Prize Winners (Stage One)
Prizes were awarded to the entrants who submitted the best business plan.
Global Winner – $2000
Stand Tall Training Centre, Uganda
Business: Poultry Enterprise
The Stand Tall Training Centre, which provides vocational skills alongside primary education, wrote an excellent business plan for a poultry and eggs business. The students planned to run the enterprise themselves to give allow them to develop their technical and entrepreneurial skills. The students and teachers at this centre for vulnerable children in Kampala planned to make the best of existing resources at their school in order to set up the business, and conducted comprehensive market research to ensure it’s success.
Business Plan Regional Prize Winners – $1000
Africa: St. Don Bosco Training Institute, Ghana
Business: Organic vegetable production
St. Don Bosco Training Institute in Ghana wrote an exceptional business plan for an organic vegetable production business. After undertaking market research, they recognised that new universities and businesses in their area would result in a market for exotic fruits and vegetables. The students made great plans to make their business environmentally sustainable by making their own compost and fertilizer. Since starting their business, ‘hands on’ experience has enabled them to build on skills learnt during vocational lessons.
Asia Pacific: Modern Public School, India
Business: Manufacturing and selling decorative items
The students at the Modern Public School in India wrote a detailed business plan for their business, which manufactures and sells decorative items from recycled paper. Using waste paper and the recycling machine already available at the school, the students incorporated their theoretical knowledge into the development of the business. The business, Creative Connections, is environmentally friendly and the students are proud to declare themselves “green ambassadors”. The teachers and students are very enthusiastic about the enterprise and wish to involve more students in order to expand the business and meet the market demand
Europe: Carlogie Primary School, United Kingdom
Business: Fair-trade Café
The students at Carlogie Primary School wrote a great business for their Fair-trade Café in Carnoustie, Scotland. Once a month, the pupils sell fair-trade goods to the local community. The aim of their enterprise is not only to generate a profit, but also to make the members of the community aware of the benefits of Fair-trade products. The business allows the pupils to gain business and entrepreneurial skills.
Latin America; Escuela Concertada Solaris, Peru
Business: Growing vegetables for jams and pickles
The ‘Qallanrikuy Team’ students wrote a very impressive and well researched business plan for their business growing traditional Peruvian rocoto, a type of spicy pepper, and turning it to jams and pickles. After trying many different businesses, such as guinea pig breeding and selling CD’s, the students decided to do lots of research into the most profitable business, and the answer was rocoto! Through planning and starting a business the students have learnt valuable life skills and helped the community by providing healthy and tasty products!
Middle East and North Africa: Our Own English High School, Dubai
Business: Garage Sales
Our Own English High School in Dubai submitted an outstanding business plan for their garage sale business, where they sold unused items, such as cutlery and books. The students implemented their marketing and sales plan by advertising the garage sales by displaying posters and pamphlets as well as giving presentations. They have also acquired a number of soft skills such as creativity and public speaking. The School plans on developing the business and have already initiated tree plantation programmes and social campaigns.
Country Winners
We would like to commend 22 other schools for their dedication and hard work throughout the School Enterprise Challenge.
Bangladesh:MAFTA Primary School
Business: Vegetable Garden
MAFTA Primary School’s fruit & vegetable garden processes and produces jams, jellies, sauces and other products. Since the launch of the business, students’ attendance at school and their engagement with learning has increased, as they have become aware of how small a business can earn them an income. The project has generated $1,611 in profit and the school plans to expand their enterprise to include handicrafts and develop a centre for sales.
Botswana: Bokamoso CJSS
Business: Environmentally friendly lamps
Bokamoso CJSS launched their enterprise “3R Light and Shine”, producing and selling lamps made from recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Students were involved in planning from the outset and acquired entrepreneurial, marketing and teamwork skills.
The enterprise increases awareness and promotes eco-friendly lifestyles among the wider community, who also benefit from a reduction in waste materials. Part of the profits from the enterprise were put back into the business, with the rest going towards purchasing trees and school equipment.
Bulgaria: Kozma Trichkov
Business: Environmentally friendly gifts
Kozma Trichkov’s students create gifts, cards and souvenirs from eco-friendly materials as part of their ‘Studio Eco Art’ enterprise. The enterprise competes with local competitors by offering more affordable and environmentally friendly products. Students developed their creative skills, as well as learning entrepreneurial skills and more technical aspects of the production process. The profits will go towards returning the initial investment, with the remainders providing clothing and food for disadvantaged students and technical equipment for the school.
Cameroon:Lycee de Zamengoe
Business: Renewable Energy (Solar)
Lycee de Zamegoe are helping to supply rural populations with low cost solar products assembled by their students. Their enterprise ‘School Sustainable Solutions’ produces simple solar devices for lighting and charging mobile phones. The students have learned how entrepreneurship can help generate income, and become aware of the ways that renewable energies can provide sustainable solutions to some of the problems in the surrounding communities.
China: Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School
Business: Recycled greetings Cards
Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School’s enterprise produces custom-made greetings cards. The 15 students involved hold regular planning meeting discussing how to improve their enterprise. They conduct market research, and have learned to balance the enterprise with their studies. The enterprise contributes to the community by providing products at a much cheaper price the. The cards are produced with recycled materials, and the students make sure to raise environmental awareness among their customers.
Democratic Republic of Congo:Institut La Charité
Business: Selling furniture
The La Charité Shop sells furniture to students, staff and the surrounding community. The students all have positions on a business management committee, teaching them entrepreneurial and business development skills. The income from the enterprise goes towards supporting 40 orphans and vulnerable students, funding school events, and teacher training. Some profits have been put aside for the future, and the Institut La Charité hope to sponsor the education of even more children in need.
Ethiopia: English Alive Academy
Business: Growing and selling vegetables
English Alive Academy started their own small social enterprise 'Vegetables Alive' to generate income for their rapidly growing school. The students grow vegetables in the school garden and sell them directly to local people and shops. The business started small with an investment of $5, but already it is generating a profit for the school. They plan to expand their business by using more of the school garden to grow vegetables.
Ghana: Bisease MDCC D/A
Business: Moringa leaf powder production
The Ajumako-Bisease region suffers from high levels of malaria, fever and other illnesses. The ‘Your Health, Your Wealth’ enterprise is based on production of Moringa leaf powder, which can be used as a treatment for many ailments. The introduction of the powder to the local market has shown positive results in the surrounding communities. The 15 students involved have learned the value of entrepreneurship, as well as giving something back to the local community. So far the enterprise has exceeded all expectation in raising $720, and the school hopes to expand their business in the future.
Indonesia: SMA Negeri 11 Bandung
Business: Eco-friendly products
The ’11 Waste Management’ enterprise collects all kind of waste, transforming it into bags, craft products and other items. Students have become more aware of environmental issues as well as gaining small financial rewards that incentivise future entrepreneurial efforts.
The enterprise has helped to reduce waste in the surrounding area, a problem that the city government has found difficult to tackle. As a result, the school won an environmentally healthy schools competition for their province and will represent their area at the national level.
Kenya:Hakerongo Primary School
Business: Seedling nursery
Students at Hakerongo Primary School in Kenya developed the ‘Assorted Seeds Nursery’, growing and selling seedlings. 50 children have taken part, developing entrepreneurial problem solving and agricultural skills.
The project contributes to the local environment by helping maintain forests, reducing social erosion and putting unproductive land to use. The students’ endeavours encourage social integration between teachers, pupils parents and the wider community. The enterprise generated $56 in profit – around half has been put towards maintaining the project for 2013, and the rest used to subsidise the schools financial needs and support vulnerable groups within the school.
Malawi:St. Andrews International High School
Business: Stationery shop
Students participating in St. Andrew’s ‘e.co’ enterprise sell stationary at break and lunchtime. The enterprise has had to contend with Malawi’s serious economic problems such as inflation and devaluation. By changing prices daily, the students have successfully managed their business in the face of economic challenges. They have marketed their enterprise through school assemblies, posters and daily bulletins, learning important business and marketing skills.
Mauritius:Aquarius Learning Centre Co. Ltd
Business: Entrepreneurial training
The Aquarius Learning Centre run a training scheme supporting micro-enterprises for disadvantaged women and girls in the Black River district in Western Mauritius, one of the country’s poorest regions. The project met the ‘People’ criterion by improving the status of women in the community, providing entrepreneurial skills in order to reduce poverty.
Of the profit generated, half was put back into the business, and half was used to finance end of year lunches and gifts for old people, poor children and women in rehabilitation centres.
Nepal:Nagarjuna Academy Higher Secondary
Business: Compost & Manure Sales
The ‘Making the Best of Waste’ enterprise produces compost and manure using waste from the school vegetable garden. Over 60 students are involved, packaging marketing and selling their product within the community. The project is environmentally sustainable, and students, their parents, and neighbours have learned the importance of recycling and reusing waste products.
The school overcame reluctance from parents to win the support of the local community, and provided valuable sales and marketing training to the students, who came to embrace practical learning and entrepreneurial skills.
Nicaragua: Fabretto School
Business: Events venue
Fabretto School’s business plan responds to the local community’s need for a venue to hold events which is both reliable and affordable. Their enterprise, ‘Fabretto Eventos’ will provide a customized service for birthdays, weddings graduations and more. The enterprise will generate valuable revenue for the school, as well as teaching students entrepreneurial skills and good business practice. Participants will conduct market research and surveys and develop innovative marketing strategies to spread awareness.
Nicaragua: College Dianova Esther Del Rio Las Maria
Business: Environmentally friendly crafts
At College Dianova Esther Del Rio Las Maria 15 students have been producing jewelry, gifts and crafts from recycled materials. The enterprise meets the ‘Planet’ criteria by transforming waste into usable products - what’s more, students have learned to earn an income with limited means The enterprise earned $326. Some profits were reinvested into the business, and the rest were used for a Christmas party to reward and incentivise the students who took part.
Pakistan: Beaconhouse School System North Nazimabad Primary 1
Business: Party planners
Beaconhouse School’s enterprise is a party planning business for children. The students provide all the services, including cooking, photography, face painting, henna tattoos and musical games. Participants helped in the planning of the project, conducting surveys and marketing campaigns. They gained confidence and teamwork skills, and learned to interact with customers and colleagues. The enterprise has so far generated $1000, which was donated to the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Karachi.
Paraguay:Madre Mazzarello
Business: Mango Desserts
Madre Mazzarello produced an excellent business plan for their enterprise - students undertook market research, discovering that the greatest demand was for tasty, simple desserts! Their enterprise ‘Dulces MaÃn’ sold desserts made from seasonal produce bought from the local community. Students learnt enterprise and cooking skills, and the profits will be reinvested into the school, and go towards teaching vulnerable women how they can use their own fruit trees to earn an income.
Philippines:Noorul Eilm Academy
The students at Norrul Eilm Academy wrote a business plan for two different business activities. The first idea was to use water hyacinth flowers to make picture frames and stationary. The second business activity would be to cook and sell traditional foods such as Pastel, a type of filipino Pie and other Bangsamoro delicacies.
Business: Arts and Crafts and Traditional Food
The students at Norrul Eilm Academy wrote a business plan for two different business activities. The first idea was to use water hyacinth flowers to make picture frames and stationary. The second business activity would be to cook and sell traditional foods such as Pastel, a type of filipino Pie and other Bangsamoro delicacies.
South Africa: The Birches Pre-Primary School
Business: Monthly market selling school and home products
The Birches School holds monthly markets selling goods produced by the children and their families, such as fruit, herbs, eggs, baked goods and bracelets. Parents and members of the community take part in the school business activities and the teachers use the businesses to teach new technical skills, such as permaculture, and business skills, such as bookkeeping. For the future, the school hopes to acquire more chickens, expand their fruit forest and organise weekly markets rather than monthly ones.
South Africa: Kingdom Christian School
Business: Tuck Shop
Kingdom Christian School’s enterprise ‘Mr. Goodies Tuckshop’ provides snacks for students at break time. Participants met regularly to discuss progress and challenges, taking on board feedback from staff and customers. They learned valuable business, market research and entrepreneurial skills
The students faced a problem when South Africa’s economy experienced considerable inflation, however they tackled this successfully, adjusting prices to account for inflation. The school have also made arrangements with a waste management company who collect and recycle materials to ensure a clean environment.
Tanzania: Kantui School
Business: Organic Farming & Biogas Production
Kantui School ran two enterprise projects in parallel: bio-gas production and organic farming. The school faced numerous challenges – expert support for their biogas enterprise was not forthcoming, and their garden suffered from pest problems. The school was able to adapt however, turning to pest-resistant crops and expanding their business into other areas such as an ICT lab and bus rental scheme. Students learned gardening & entrepreneurial skills, the importance of recycling and importantly, how to overcome difficulties facing their business.
Tanzania: Rwemondo School
Business: Tree planting
Rwemondo School started a tree planting business with various objectives: generating an income for the school, training the students to become skilled entrepreneurs, and protecting the environment. Their business consists of planting seeds and then selling the seedlings to the members of the community.
Uganda: Children’s Sure House
Business: Organic Beekeeping
Children’s Sure House’s enterprise centres on bee keeping/farming. The honeycombs can be used as a raw material for wax and shoe polish, providing a valuable source of income.
Honey is also used for syrup and ointments for HIV/AIDS medicines, as well as other ailments. This region of Uganda is badly affected by HIV/AIDS, so has a real impact on the surrounding community. The hives are produced from recycled materials, and all organic waste is recycled. Students have learned practical skills, business planning and management and environmental awareness. The project has already raised $1353 and the enterprise will continue over the coming year.
Uganda: Mackay Memorial College
Business: horticulture and organic pesticide
The Students at Mackay Memorial College in Uganda launched a school business growing and selling vegetables. The school has generated some income allowing poorer students working on the school farm to attend school for free. The business gave the students the opportunity to gain “hands on” experience while continuing their academic studies. The students have used the profits to create a loan scheme for needy students, so that they can borrow money to cover their school fees.
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