Entrepreneurship alive and well in Barbados among the youth
The products of the business include “BoobieCookies”, cookies in the shape of a woman’s breasts; and “BoobieBites”, which are two small round breast-shaped cakes.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday October 20, 2011 - Two innovative, community-minded and business-oriented Barbadian students, participating in the BEF $20 Challenge Schools Entrepreneurial Competition, have embarked on an interesting approach to entrepreneurship.
The two students of the Codrington International School, Ariela St- Pierre-Collins and her colleague, Isabella Forsberg, both 15 years of age, are the brains behind the enterprise “BoobieCakes”, a charitable business which is channeling all its profits to the Little Pink Foundation of Barbados, which supports financial and other forms of support for breast cancer patients.
The products of the business include “BoobieCookies”, cookies in the shape of a woman’s breasts; and “BoobieBites”, which are two small round breast-shaped cakes, attractively packaged in a gift box and specially made pink ribbons. Although the concept of a breast shaped cookie or cake may seem risqué or a bit mature in concept, the whole idea is for women to stop being embarrassed about their breasts and to demystify them, so that they can start asking the right questions of their medical practitioners regarding breast health and also start practicing better breast care by way of self examinations. So the business, although selling humorous and fun products, actually helps further the aims of Breast Cancer Awareness in a very innovative and engaging way.
Commented Keith Miller, co-Champion of the Education & Talent Development Pillar of the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation (BEF), which is staging the Competition:
“This really is a very enterprising idea, and especially timely since October is being observed as Breast Awareness Month. It’s a great example of young people being aware of life around them and wanting to give back to their community. These young ladies have come up with a sound business concept that caters to a serious issue in a fun way – and can make money. That is what the $20 Challenge is all about. This is the kind of creative thinking that we are hoping to encourage in our young Barbadians in all walks of life.”
The main aim of the $20 Challenge is to inspire and generate as much interest as possible amongst young students, along with the rest of the country, about the idea of being an entrepreneur. The objective is to provide participating 4th Form students with $20 and allow them a month to use the money to create a profitable, innovative and/or community minded business. The whole exercise is aimed at giving these young people a fun and rewarding opportunity to actually experience what being an “enterprising person” really means.
The project has been approved and endorsed by a wide cross section of key stakeholders in education and the business community; including the Ministry of Education And Human Resource Development, the country’s leading youth development organizations and corporate Barbados. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)