Over 100,000 children have started classroom businesses since the Junior Entrepreneur Programme launched in 2010.
Thousands of Irish entrepreneurs have mentored the 5th and 6th class primary school pupils while they create, invest in, and launch mini businesses in their schools throughout the island of Ireland, writes Alex Greaney.
The businesses created by the participating pupils have achieved sales of almost €3 million, with a significant proportion of the profits being donated to local charities. “One of the key changes in the approaches of the classroom entrepreneurs has been the realisation that their entrepreneurial endeavours can make a difference in their locality. As a result, they’ve embraced the concept of social entrepreneurship, funded by their successful classroom businesses,” explained Programme co-founder Marie Lynch.
Children combine their innate creativity with the skills they develop on the programme to create original products and launch businesses ranging from board games to storybooks, high-end craft products, and businesses with strong sustainability and wellbeing themes.
PHOTO – Shellybanks Educate Together National School
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