Marie-Josée Legault, Student-parent support worker at Toujours ensemble’s Pathways to Education program, glows: « We are nearing the finish line and I am so proud of this young group! They have worked hard on their small business. »
The young people in question are Adam, Mahëva, Alix, Gauvin, Samy and Léo, all between the ages of 12 and 15. Last fall, they chose to take part in a project that would introduce them to entrepreneurship. Marie-Josée explains: « They really threw themselves into the unknown. The project didn’t exist; it was up to them to create it from scratch. Obviously, I wanted to provide them with the tools they would need. Diane Leclerc [professional development counsellor] and Vincent Brazeau [project development officer], from the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de Verdun, made it all possible. Thanks to them, the teens received training on the basics of business, budgeting, resource management, etc. They were also able to meet two entrepreneurs and discuss with them the challenges, but also the pride, of starting their own business. »
With their heads full of new knowledge and ideas, the teens then got together to choose what product they would work on. Bath bombs were quickly a consensus. « Except Adam and Samy told us about their mom’s recipe for cream fudge. Apparently, it’s THE best recipe. So we ended up with two products… and the name Bombe sucrée! » adds Marie-Josée.
The group of budding entrepreneurs is finally ready to sell their products and are very excited to meet their first customers.
The sale will take place on Tuesday, December 20, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Carolyn H. Renaud Centre of Toujours ensemble (4926 Verdun Street). Prices range from $ 3 to $ 10.
« The proceeds will go back to the kids, probably in the form of gift cards, but profit is really not the main objective of this first experience for them. We really wanted them to experience something completely new, a success they can be proud of. I think we can already say that it was, indeed, a success. The atmosphere during the meetings was great, their enthusiasm was contagious. We would like to repeat the project every year, » concludes Marie-Josée.
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Source Toujours ensemble)
