School has started. I now have a routine, I now have something to look forward to. This year will be more in depth than last year as far as preparing my senior high school students for the competition this year. I am the first business volunteer in Esquipulas and will be setting up a local competition for my students to present their small businesses to judges who will then decide which groups advance to the regional competition.
After regional competition student groups will have the opportunity to advance to national competition in Managua. First, Second, Third place groups can win money to invest back into their business! A lot of students we work with have never been to Managua, have never been to a hotel (where they will get to stay for a night for free), nor have they ever seen a swimming pool.
How do they get to Managua? Students will gain the knowledge to become young entrepreneurs. From here they will work in their team groups to decide on a product or service that does not exist in their community. They will be doing all the research and market studies to ensure that their product or service is viable and competitive and that the people are willing to buy it. Business plans will be written and presented at local municipality competitions where judges will decide which teams have the overall better proudct and business plan. Student groups who win local competitions advance to regionals and then to the national competition.
Where does the money come from to pay for transportaion, prizes, hotel stay for the students at national competition? The small business volunteers host an annual Gala each year as a way to fundraise and pay for these prizes. This Gala is also an event, a classy event (for peace corps volunteers) in which peace corps volunteers have a chance to get together and celebrate. People from Managua are also invited, as well as personnel from the U.S. Embassy. It is a night full of joy, eating, dancing, celebrating, and a silent auction which acts as another form of raising funds for our students heading to the national competition. By no means is Peace Corps raising the money. We work with a group called Red Emprende who helps aid us in the fundraising. Peace Corps does not make money off of this. These funds are soley for the national competition and prizes for our lucky students who get to participate!
This is my goal this year: to bring one of my student groups to national competition!
Wish me luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment