KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Nine teenagers from two Kingston communities, who have benefited from entrepreneurial training, have come together to form their own small business.

The seven females and two males, from the Arnold Road and Allman Town areas, are now engaged in making hats and hair bows.

They participated in a 12-week programme, initiated by Member of Parliament for South East St Andrew, Julian Robinson, and conducted by Junior Achievement Programme under its Company of Entrepreneurs programmes.

During the training, held from May 9 to July 25 at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston, the teens learnt how to start and operate a small business.

Areas covered include: product development, start-up capital, marketing a product, conducting a market survey, setting prices, and conducting a cost benefit analysis. The training also included leadership and work-readiness skills.

The teens, a mix of students and unattached youths, are now diligently working towards the development and promotion of their ‘Kick Out’ brand, consisting of bucket hats and bows that have been fashioned into hair accessories.

They have sold 42 shares at $200 each, raising start-up capital of $8,400, which was matched by Junior Achievement Jamaica. They are presently in the process of marketing their products.

Robinson told JIS NEWS that Junior Achievement Jamaica was contacted and invited to engage the young people in the Arnold Road and Allman Town communities in some kind of entrepreneurship training during the summer as a means of “changing their mind-set and creating micro businesses”.

While the nine were part of a group of 20, who initially started the programme,  Robinson said he was happy they stuck with the training.

“I’m really happy that they’ve gotten to this stage.  I certainly will be supporting them to see if they can make it a successful business,” he told JIS News.