UAE | Society

UAE’s student entrepreneurs explore the market

Community Arts Market programme helps schoolchildren brush up business skills

By Jumana Khamis, Staff Reporter
Published: 16:15 December 11, 2012

Image Credit: Courtesy: Victoria International School of Sharjah
Students from the Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS) put their entrepreneurial skills to the test.

Sharjah: Students turned entrepreneurs for the day, showcasing originally designed T-shirts and crafts at an event that gave them a taste of running a business.

A selection of students from Grades 10 to 13 from the Victoria International School of Sharjah (VISS) marketed and sold their products to the general public at the Business Enterprise Day at Dubai Festival City.

The initiative, showing students how practical businesses operate in real life, was organised during the monthly ARTE (Artisans of the Emirates) market held as part of the Community Arts Market (CAM).

“Our objective is to provide the students with practical, real-life experience of setting up and running their own business in the real entrepreneurial world, which will help to enhance their studies and give them wider understanding of how to do business,” said Sajid Hussain, head of business and enterprise and careers guidance counsellor at VISS.

“It is evident from Business Enterprise Day that we have outstanding students to match the school’s ambition of offering them knowledge of how small businesses work, as well as skills important for adult and working life,” Hussain said.

The selected students were chosen ahead of the ARTE market, after pitching their ideas and undergoing a tough selection process.

They were also asked to continue with the development and production of their ideas, and given responsibility of handling everything right from the production, display and marketing to selling the products on the day.

Products on offer included assorted calendars with inspirational quotes, crafts, card games, posters, a fun photo booth and puzzles.

“It was an amazing experience participating in enterprise day,” said Deepak Bharwani from Grade 12.

It was a demanding, long process that was definitely worth all the hard work.”

Another student Bree-Anna John, also from Grade 12, added that the initiative was a fantastic opportunity for her team to showcase their business idea whilst gaining real practical experience. “As a team we felt real entrepreneurial spirit throughout the day,” she said.

Dr Roderick Crouch, principal at VISS, also encouraged the students to take advantage of the great opportunity and to think about entrepreneurship and self-employment as a viable career choice. “Introducing enterprise to students in such a relevant fashion can only help to create more entrepreneurs in the future,” he said.