Market day to inspire rural pupils

HUNDREDS of pupils from 73 different schools will this weekend descend on Centane town hall as Isolomzi Senior Secondary School hosts a market day.

The school, which last year walked away with first prize after entering the Youth Enterprise Society entrepreneurship competition, said the market day was an attempt to spread the spirit of good business to neighbouring schools in the area.

Isolomzi principal Sizo Butshingi said the second aim was to raise funds to pay their school tutors.

According to Butshingi, 60 pupils from Grades 8 to 11 have organised a fun-filled day where a stalls will sell everything from food, crafts, clothes and shoes.

A number of hawkers from the Centane CBD, who have shown interest in the event, have also come on board on agreement of paying a small sum to host stalls on the day.

Apart from the stalls, Butshingi said another major highlight to the day will be informative lectures on entrepreneurship and general business practise which will be shared with the visiting pupils at the event.

Butshingi said this was the first event of its kind to hit the town.

“The economic situation we find ourselves in these days lead us to want our kids to be armed with entrepreneurship as well as educational qualifications,” he said.

“This will be the perfect platform for us to not only inform kids on what entrepreneurship is all about but to also show them.

“As such, we have invited a number of speakers to educate the pupils. These talks will run parallel to the other market day activities.”

To win the competition, Butshingi said the school opened a tuck shop and started a catering service servicing their village.

As part of the competition, pupils had to set up a business venture providing goods and services to the public backed up by a strong marketing campaign.

The school won R50 000 in prize-money, which they used to start a food garden.

“We want other schools in the area to also benefit from this competition and as such we have invited representatives from the Youth Enterprise Society to tell them how they too can become part of this initiative.

“I want to call on all pupils and community members to please come and support our event. I can guarantee that a good time will be had by all,” he said. —