St George’s hosts College Entrepreneur’s Day

St George’s College hosted another successful Entrepreneur’s Day earlier in July. Ms Berdine Beukes and her team of teachers, Ms Mavis Mannetti and Mr George Kerosi were responsible for organising this year’s event. The Entrepreneur’s Day is compulsory for Grade 8 and 9 students at St George’s as well as all the Business Studies students. For all other grades participation is voluntary and students may participate in groups or individually.
Riette Hanekom, Principal of St George’s School explained: “We feel that the Entrepreneur’s Day is one of the most important events at our school. We are all aware of the high unemployment rate in our country and the fact that jobs in the formal employment sector are not that easy to come by. Therefore it is imperative that students are taught from a relatively young age that they can do something on their own and that it is possible to earn money and to make a living by being an entrepreneur – be it big or small.”
Describing the scope of the competition that is part of Entrepreneur’s Day, Hanekom said students have to hand in business plans and budgets before the time while the income and expense statement is handed in after the event and then winners are announced. She said: “Judges are invited from outside the school which makes the whole process free, fair and transparent. A minimum of 10% of each stall’s profit is paid to the school. This is to establish a sense of ploughing back into the community and these funds will be utilised for College social projects.”
Announcing the winners, Mavis Mannetti expressed her sincere thanks to all the participants for the spirit of co-operation, which ensured the success of the day.