Junior Achievement Mini Company Program 2017

Focusing on entrepreneurship, the Junior Achievement Mini Company program is seeing the participation of 14 teams from schools around the island this year. Last week, News on Sunday presented seven teams. This week, we talk about the remaining seven business projects set up by the Grade 12 (Lower Six) students.

This year’s 6th local edition of the JA Mini Company, organised by Junior Achievement Mascareignes in collaboration with Cim Finance, focuses on four themes: use of renewable energy, water conservation, recycling process and tech items. The 14 participating teams, consisting of Grade 12 (Lower Six) students from secondary institutions around the island, not only have the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurship skills but also to demonstrate the use of innovative thinking to learn and explore business and corporate career aspirations.

The JA Mini Company program, launched in 2011, aims at enabling those students to learn about entrepreneurship through the setting up, running and liquidation of a business. In this endeavour, the program had a new addition this year. The young entrepreneurs took part in an Expo-Vente on 5th August at the Kendra Shopping Mall, St Pierre. The objective of such an experience was to take the students out of the comfort zone of the schools and have them promote, market and sell their products to the general public. In addition, it allowed them to develop their communication and sales skills.

The participating teams indeed had a good response from the public and were able to make decent sales. As part of the 2017 competition, the participating companies were assessed during the Expo-Vente for their sales, knowledge of their products and business and entrepreneurial skills. Next week, which will be the end of the program, each team submit their liquidation report and a sample of their product/description of their service. Based on pre-set criteria, five teams will be selected in September for the JA Mini Company Mauritius Competition final. The Expo Vente is part of the preliminary assessment.

In November, four members of the five selected teams will have to represent their JA Company at the finals, which consists of five minutes PowerPoint Presentation followed by Questions and Answers. The winner of the local competition will represent Mauritius at the 2017 JA Africa Regional Company of the Year Competition which will be held in Johannesburg South Africa, from 6 to the 8 December 2017.

LEM Co. Ltd (Limière Ecolozik Maurice)

The aim of the LEM Co. Ltd is to produce lamps and annexed items focusing on the 3R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) and using raw materials for example bamboo, papier mâché and coconut. Set up by students from Dr Maurice Curé State College, the project aims to help in the protection of the environment and to sensitise people about “Moris Ile Durable”. The girls produce desk organisers made from coconut shell and other recycled materials. They also make Coconut Shell Lamp which is an original and eco-friendly lamp shade made from natural coconut shell, ornamented with special design to create a relaxing effect.

Popcraft Company Ltd

The students from Ebène Girls SSS set up Popcraft Ltd with the aim of producing trendy craft items. They manufacture two products namely The Popsocket and The Explosion Box. The Popsocket is a fashionable gadget, made with recycled ‘ventouse’ and is ideal for any mobile phone. On the other side, the Explosion Box is a cute trendy box which allows you to slip in your birthday wishes or love messages. The box is the ideal gift for birthdays and other celebrations.

Talent Eco Ltd

This team of young women from Loreto Convent, Rose Hill, are more than motivated to sensitise people, especially the youth, about the protection of the environment. Talent Eco Ltd has come up with three creative products that are 100% environment friendly and that help in the growth of plants. The team manufactures flower jars made of glass bottles. The plant rests in the bottle’s neck, while its root is connected to a string which transfers water directly to it. The second item proposed by Talent Eco is the flower pot made of scrapped recycled wood, pot and other materials. To make watering easy, a small container is glued to a wooden stick and water flows from the container to the plant’s roots through a string. Lastly Talent Eco has come up with a compost bin which is made from recycled bucket and recycled wood for the stand.

Twalla Co. Ltd

Twalla Co. Ltd makes rugs and other great products using 100% recycled materials. The company, set up by students of Dr Maurice Curé State College, aims at sensitising people on the recycling of used fabrics such as towels and shirts. The team produces three items namely the fashionable T-shirt bracelets, the coiled t-shirt baskets and the Towel rugs which are made from 100% recycled cotton towels.

Green Hoover Ltd

‘Recycle to innovate’ – This is the tag line of Green Hoover Ltd. The company, set up by students from John Kennedy College, focuses on offering an ecological alternative to electrical hoover. The vacuum, created by Green Hoover Ltd, is made from recycled material such as plastic bottle and pipes and is powered through a USB cable. The company also produces wish cards made from recycled paper.

Quirkyfind Corporation

The team of Quirkyfind Corporation believes that recycling is the future and is all worth it. The students from Loreto Convent, Rose Hill have thus decided to recycle plastic bottles and transform them in a unique way. Quirkyfind Corporation converts the plastic bottles into poufs. The trendy furniture is as ecological as it is comfortable for sitting.

Entorno Ltd

Entorno Ltd produces items made from recycled materials such as wood and bamboo. The company produces phone and pen holders made from recycled wood to keep one’s phone, pen and other belongings in one place. It also produces a bamboo organiser which is made from recycled bamboo to keep magazines. Lastly, Entorno Ltd produces glass holders. These practical holders allow to carry both bottle and glasses. The glass holder can also be converted into a tray once you’re at the table.