When is a stone not just a stone? When it is a weapon, an historical relic — or an ornament for sale.
Creative ways of seeing things is one of the learning objectives of the Business Ventures (BV) programme, an entrepreneurial project created by the Cape Town-based South African Institute of Entrepreneurship (SAIE). Launched in 1997, the programme is designed to introduce learners from grades two to 12 to business practices. It has been translated into 17 languages and is used in more than 70 countries.
St Michael Primary School in Redhill, KwaZulu-Natal, is one of 3 000 South African schools making use of the programme.
Economic and management sciences coordinator Vijaykumarie Seethiah and her Grade Threes are clearly sold on it. The BV kit consists of a number of cards, where fun charactersexplain economic principles of currency and making a profit. The class can start grappling with business thinking around images of a zoo and a racetrack on a large board.
Like most teachers, Seethiah does not have a background in business. But, she says, the training workshop on how to use the BV kit ‘was an eye-opener as it gave me a good grounding in the world of businessâ€.
She says it complements some of the core values and objectives of OBE, such as being participatory and learner-centred, and equipping learners with relevant life-skills.
‘What is more,†says Seethiah, ‘the kit is pictorial and colourful, which makes it easy for the Grade Three learners to relate to. It also helps them make sense of basic business terms and concepts like marketing, taking business risks, how to generate income and so on.â€
To reinforce learners’ theoretical knowledge, the school holds market days where youngsters set up their own stalls and sell a variety of products — from samoosas to hair accessories. The kids relish the opportunity to sharpen their marketing skills and powers of persuasion, as well as how to work with hard cash.
Robin Coxson of the SAIE, says the programme is relevant regardless of the profession learners choose. ‘Even if a learner ends up becoming a lawyer or doctor and sets up his or her own practice, he or she will need some entrepreneurial skills or knowledge. In the long-term, it addresses the problem of unemployment as learners will not be job seekers, but will create jobs themselves,†says Coxson.
Last year’s primary school winner of the annual BV entrepreneurship competition, Lois Hansmeyer (13) of Mntunzini Primary in KwaZulu-Natal, opened her own party clown business called Busy Balloon Entertainer, while matric student Nkosinathi Nyawo from Khula High in Empangeni has gone on to own Friends’ Photo & Video Filming.
Business Ventures is a project of the South African Institute of Entrepreneurship. (Tel: 021 683-1850, Fax: 021 674-3920, e-mail: [email protected])
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