A Grade 6 Boundary Park Elementary student is the first winner of a Dragon's Den-style competition hosted by Surrey Board of Trade and PowerPlay Young Entrepreneur.
Kehan Hettiarachchi's Krazy Pots business – featuring pots pre-filled with soil and wild flowers to help bees – was named tops by judges during a May 31 event at the 12332 N. Boundary Dr. school.
According to a news release, the event was part of a commitment by SBOT to boost youth entrepreneurship, as outlined in its Youth Entrepreneurship and Advocacy Action Plan. One component of the plan is to give students in Grades 4 to 8 a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of business.
At Boundary Park Elementary, 59 students participated in the program – spending the spring developing business plans, conducting market research and making decisions about product design, advertising and pricing.
They then showcased their achievements – and products such as handcrafted jewelry, terrariums and toys – in a Young Entrepreneur Show, where they interacted with customers and earned real money, donating a portion of their profits to charity.
SBOT CEO Anita Huberman said the aim of the program was to give practical life skills to Surrey's future professionals and business leaders.
PowerPlay creator Bill Roche said the entrepreneurs all set their own goals and take responsibility for achieving them.
“The students actively develop core competencies such as creative and critical thinking, communications and social responsibility as they move through the business planning process.”
For more information, visit www.powerplay4success.com, or contact PowerPlay Strategies at 604-538-0816 or Huberman at 604-340-3899.