(Picture caption: Manurewa High School students Leonada Manuatu, Selina Helg, Luseane Langoia, Wilson Silipa and Taeao Pomale-Time are the founders of MoonWood Canvas, a business competing in the 2022 Young Enterprise Scheme.)
The future of Pacific business is in good hands with 67 Pacific teams showcasing their entrepreneurial flair in the 2022 Young Enterprise Scheme (YES).
Held annually, YES sees teams from secondary schools around Aotearoa experience the start-up world first-hand, by setting up and running a business.
Each YES company creates their own product or service and brings this to market, which is then judged at the end of the year, at regional and national level competitions.
Pacific Kaiarahi ako (Teaching Mentor) Sian McMillan has worked as part of the YES team for four years, supporting and engaging with Pacific YES students to start businesses and run them for the year.
She is also available to help and support teachers connect YES with NCEA assessments and credits, she adds.
“While it is fantastic we have 67 teams who identify as Pacific among the 4,687 students and 201 schools involved the scheme this year, we have unfortunately seen a drop in the number of schools and teams involved due to COVID-19 interruptions.
“However, I have already heard back from a lot of teachers that were unable to offer it this year, and they are really keen to have it again in 2023.”
Teams are required to star a business and create a product they are passionate about, with the aim of ensuring they meet the quadruple bottom line and are sustainable.
Currently, the 2022 YES teams are promoting and selling their businesses, at various marketplaces set up specifically for the scheme by YES partners, including the likes of Auckland Business Chamber.
Teams will get to showcase their goods at regional competitions in early November, followed by Nationals, on December 6, in Wellington.
Visit the YES website for more information.