Jr. achievement programme celebrates 3 yrs. of success

For the past three years, Junior Achievement Belize has been giving students a hands on training course, showing them first hand what it takes to own and manage a business. Through the Belize Business Bureau, the international programme has had the participation of some three thousand young persons from across the country. Tonight the latest batch of successful graduates will be receiving awards for their contributions to the project. According to organisers, the students were tasked to create a real business within a school setting, market a product or service and make a profit. Based on the results of those young entrepreneurs, national coordinator Brenda Serano says the hope that it one day the Junior Achievement programme will be in all secondary schools.

Brenda Serano, National Coordinator, J.A.A.
?It has been very successful. In fact, we had only three high schools running it for the 2005?2006 school year, but we have ten high schools that will be running it for the new school year. This will enable us to branch-off or expand by having the very first Junior Belpro Conex, where we will be showcasing the products and services of the high schoolers; the businesses that they create through the junior achievement company programme for the new school year. Also as part of the company programme, we are recognizing and awarding two students who were nominated based on their commitment and dedication as officers within their school company. We are awarding them by sending them to attend a junior leadership conference in West Palm beach, Florida in August for five days.?

The award ceremony gets underway tonight at seven at the Princess Hotel and Casino. The students who have been chosen to attend the international conference are Saint Catherine Academy’s Crystal Rodriquez and Mount Carmel High School’s Cindy Chan.