Film director begins the change

Alaine to address students at young entrepreneurs' camp

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Kimala Bennett, who owns the Production Lab, is known as a film director and also produces radio advertisements. Last September, however, the Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, United States, graduate released the book Starting a Business in Jamaica, and last Wednesday morning she outlined a plan to spread entrepreneurship through six Jamaican high schools.

Bennett gave the overview of the 'I am the Change' programme, which she conceptualised and is designed to create young entrepreneurs at the programme's official launch, held at Jamaica Promotions Corporation's Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, office.

It is being implemented by The Business Lab, run by Bennett, and Centres of Excellence, a Jamaica National Building Society and Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) initiative.

Bennett said that she got the confidence to start her businesses from the support of her family, friends and mentors. 'I am the Change' is designed to give participating students the confidence and the tools to start their own businesses, "transforming potential job seekers into potential job-creators".

In pursuit of that goal, the 16-month programme begins with a residential camp at Moorlands, Manchester, from April 26 to 30.

There, 90 students and 13 teachers from McGrath, Mile Gully, Porus, Seaforth, Green Pond and Godfrey Stewart high schools will be immersed in entrepreneurship.

Going through the six stages of the programme, from preparation to pacing (eventually forging alliances between the students and successful business people), Bennett said "immersion is the quickest way to mastery". That means at Moorlands the programme runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

"We will be teaching them the importance of working together, strategy and planning," Bennett said.

They will also hear from persons who have valuable insight into business, including Alaine, who Bennett noted is a singer but also an entrepreneur.

competitive element

There is a competitive element, as Bennett said the students will be broken down into six teams and go for a business pitch.

Daily expenditure is a part of the lessons taught at Moorlands, as Bennett said "they will get camp money". They have options - to spend it, save at the bank (with teachers in the banker's role), or invest it in a business.

After the camp is over, the students will be monitored, there will be linkages with community businesses and the students will be encouraged to start entrepreneurial clubs with businesses they run.

It is expected that the 90 students involved in 'I am the Change' will influence close to 4,000 other students. Bennett also said "it is very important that we keep the community involved and we will have workshops for parents".

Then, at the end of the 16-month training period, the students will stage a two-day expo, showcasing their work. The main books for 'I am the Change' are The Young Entrepreneur's Handbook, Let's Talk Money, Raising an Entrepreneur and You and the Entrepreneurial Student.

Throughout Wednesday's launch, 'I am the Change' was put in the context of Jamaica achieving its 2030 vision.

preparing youths for business

Dr Reneé Rattray, programme manager of the Mutual Building Societies Foundation and host of Wednesday's launch, said, "too many Jamaicans are unprepared to operate and own their businesses", while the foundation's chairman, Earl Jarrett, spoke about seeing a recording of writer Chimamanda Adichie talking about the danger of a single story.

He said that the single story is non-traditional high schools could not produce good students and the parents were not interested.

"We believed we could change these single stories," he said about the foundation's work.

Allan Lewis, senior vice-president, group strategy, VMBS, reminded the students present that they now have many more options than persons who went through the education system before.

Major General Robert Neish, Digicel Foundation's executive director, noted that the programme launch was an important point in the country's education system. Jamaica College principal Ruel Reid, in his capacity as special adviser to the Minister of Education, gave the ministry's endorsement of the programme.

Minister of State Michael Stern did the same for the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

Yanique Sommerville of Godfrey Stewart High sang and Jenhoi Shaw of Green Pond High gave the vote of thanks.