THE Digicel Foundation, the Centre of Excellence Programme — an initiative of Jamaica National Building Society and Victoria Mutual Building Society — and The Business Lab held for the first time ever the Centres of Excellence I AM THE CHANGE Entrepreneurship Camp.

Moorlands Camp site, in the cool hills of Mandeville, housed 102 campers from Porus High, Godfrey Stewart High, Mile Gully High, McGrath High, Seafort High and Green Pond High schools.

The aim of the camp?

A five-day crash course on how to create a business, conceptualised by Kimala Bennett of The Business Lab.

TEENage got a chance to experience the rigours of the camp at the invitation of JNBS, through the Centres of Excellence Programme.

This camp was focused on non-traditional students, as it is felt that those students have less opportunities for formal employment in rural areas.

The campers, between ages 15 and 17, experienced five days of guest speakers from all areas of manufacturing and services. They also had to do market research, create a business plan and present their “products”, on the final day of the camp. In other words, they were required to do all the key things that an entrepreneur would need to do to start a business.

Shortly after arrival, each student was placed in groups named Persistent, Driven, Passionate, Innovative, Confident and Creative, which should all be attributes of an entrepreneur.

By day four, campers had seen presentations from Jukie Chin, owner of one of Jamaica’s best fast food chains, Juici Patties; Robert Levy, CEO of Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies; Christine Azan, a successful 17-year-old entrepreneur; Tyrone Wilson, owner of eZines Limited (a publisher of three electronic magazines) and many others.

The speakers spoke about the struggles they had to go through, and that nothing is gained without hard work, determination and knowing when to take risks.

TEENage spoke to a few of the students to find out how the camp has helped them.

“Being on this camp has inspired me a lot. It has motivated me on the path of being a good entrepreneur. I am eager to go home and start my own business,” said Alicia Williams, 16, from the Porus High School.

“My experience thus far at the camp has been quite exciting. I have learnt alot, I have learnt how to co-operate in groups and how to think wisely,” said 17-year-old Sasha-Gaye Lawrence, of the Green Pond High School.

TEENage also spoke to 17-year-old Shannakay Barriffe of Seafort High School.

“My time spent at this camp so far has been very rewarding. I must say, it has far exceeded all my expectations of what the camp would have been like. During the time here, I have been inspired by guest speakers, whose journey to success is now a motivation that drives me towards my journey,” she said.

The groups were asked to pitch their business ideas to a group of successful business men and women, and they would chose who had coame up with the best business idea.

Best Business Idea went to Team Driven with their digital family colouring book FMACO, Best Marketing Campaign went to Team Passionate with “Real Fude In A Tin”. Most Engaging went to Team Persistent, Best Knowledge of Product went Team Creative. There was even a special award which went to the top entrepreneur of each team.

From Team Confident was Shontell Thomas, Team Creative was Nicole Campbell, Team Persistent Shanna-Gaye Barriffe, Team Passionate Anna-Kay Black, Team Driven Johnoi Shaw and from Team Innovative was Adrian Allen.

The award for the Best Business Plan went to Team Passionate with their “Real Fude In A Tin” business.

When the students first arrived at the camp they only knew what the word entrepreneur meant, they didn’t know what it took to start and operate a successful business.

At the end of the five days, all the students knew what it took to become successful, they all left with the frame of mind to start and maintain successful business. They all went through the process of doing all that it takes, they all know that without hard work no one can achieve success.

Even at the end of it all the children didn’t want to leave, and without a doubt anyone can say that the camp was a success, it would not have been possible without the aid of all the sponsors and especially to Kimala Bennett from the Business Lab and Dr Renee Rattray, Programme Manager for the Centres of Excellence project.