Thirty students from twenty five schools have been selected to participate at the inaugural BIZKID all stars business class foundation course. These students will be fully sponsored by BIZKID to a 5-day intensive competitive Entrepreneurship Development training expected to run for 6 days in Gaborone at the beginning of February 2012.
The BIZKID is a ready for action Program aimed at grooming prospective business leaders through teaching the basics of entrepreneurship.
Launched by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcus Makgatho-Malesu, BIZKID Botswana aims at creating an upbringing of supported growth on free enterprise ensuring positive impact on kids. BIZKID encourages and nurtures entrepreneurship by affording students opportunities for priceless experiences to expectantly profile their futures.
BIZKID simply “helps children face uncertain future with certainty.”
“The BIZKID programme is a catalyst of change, which will harness and unlock the potential of entrepreneurship, particularly, in young people, who are often inhibited by lack of self-confidence and motivation.” Makgatho-Malesu said in her speech.
Moshe Seloko, the Executive Director at BIZKID, says they strongly believe in the potential kids have and the need to inspire entrepreneurship at an early age.
“By instilling the right influences, kids can become sensational entrepreneurs,” he added.
Bizkid is inspired by a saying that “you give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach him to fish, he eats for a life time”.
At the end, children will have experienced the entire entrepreneurial cycle. The impact the program has on students is vast ÔÇô from inspiration and creating their own companies to understanding the relevance of being successful in life and academics.
On Wednesday, students at Benthema Primary participated in a competition to find themselves a space at the all start Bizkid class. At the time of going for print some schools had not yet submitted their schools representatives, but Hillcrest Primary, Benthema, Masa, Regent and Baobab had their list ready.
Contacted for comment, The Deputy Head at Hillcrest Ms Mudina said she believes in Bizkid and there is no way she cannot afford her students this one time great opportunity to change their lives.
“Starting with kids, we’ve got the opportunity to change the mindset of the entire community in only a few years,” said Mr Moses of Regent.
The BIZKID all school class is intended to start in February 2012 and close with a high profile graduation ceremony, at which The Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Ministry of Trade and Industry, various corporate representatives, Business community, Parents, School representatives and Media houses will be present.
Participating schools will be given an opportunity to put up a mini stall for information sharing at this event.
Upon completion of the foundation course, successful candidates are expected to enroll in Intermediate class leading to the final stage (national competition) as well as international championships (not scheduled for this year).
Enrolment has been open to students country wide and a website has been launched for easy information access by parents and students. www.bizkid.link.co.bw.
