top
Share  share
Print  print
Join Email List  mail

"Transforming People & Communities from the Inside Out."

Home  arrow  Media  arrow  Features

published January 21, 2010

Experience Is Sweet Success For Students

Entrenuity Program

Every time people buy snacks or drinks from a vending machine at Breakthrough, they support a piece of hands-on education for a group of older students in the Nettie Bailey Student Achievement program. “The Entrenuity project’s goal is to provide interested students with basic entrepreneurial skills and experiences,” says 6th-12th Grade Academic Coordinator, Seth El-Jamal. “Basically they operate a small vending business, with guidance and input from us and our project volunteer, John Piercy."

John, a neighborhood resident and long-time entrepreneur, accepted the unique volunteer challenge to help students learn business concepts and think about enterprise decisions. “It’s been neat to serve through something that I’m passionate about,” says John. “I have a heart for entrepreneurship and for finding sustainable solutions for community development.”

“This has been a great experience so far, and the students are teaching me a thing or two as well,” he laughs. “The two vending machines are old enough that they require a bit of special handling.” John began a year-long commitment in the fall, but the youth have been involved for a whole year already.

“This project teaches students important basic business concepts,” says Seth. “The processes of doing inventory, figuring the cost per unit and determining what customers want are some real-life applications that help to remind students why skills like math and good communication are so important.”

Originally, a group of students put together a proposal and presented it to Breakthrough’s Board of Directors. They were granted some money for start-up costs. Now, students pay out expenses before they count profits, most of which are reinvested into the project. Participating students also receive a small stipend. “Finding out the profit margin was a sobering experience to many,” says Seth. “But it was an important lesson to learn.”

The students operate two vending machines, a drink machine at the Breakthrough Ministry Center and a snack machine at the Breakthrough Joshua Center. Last summer, those involved with the Entrenuity project sold Gatorade throughout the inaugural season of Breakthrough’s Home Court events. Now, as the youth basketball league season picks up, they will take orders for Gatorade from coaches who want to purchase the drink for their teams. “They’ll deliver it, packed in ice, shortly before the games,” says Seth.

Thanks to the project, students have had a chance to feel out whether or not they may study business and create companies in the future. In fact, although more students originally expressed interest, not all of them still participate. “But we are encouraged by the core group who have shown a real commitment and have taken ownership of the project,” says Seth. “We currently have four students who have been actively involved since the beginning. This project gives them actual experience and learning opportunities, in addition to reinforcing possibilities for career paths.”

Looking for a unique volunteer opportunity? Let us know about your skills, experience and interests on our Volunteer Information Form.