Once again, I'm having issues updating this blog. November was an extremely busy month as is expected of a Small Business Volunteer. As a volunteer working in this sector, my main project is to train teachers how to teach the entrepreneurship curriculum in four local high schools. This is a course that is required for all seniors in high school to take in order to graduate. The purpose of the course is to teach the students how to write a business plan but while writing the plan, they actually create this business. They create a product or service, implement market studies, establish a budget and even calculate their break-even point. As we progress through each portion of the business plan throughout the year, they apply what they learn in the class to the business they are actually creating!
Towards the end of the year, the competition season begins. Peace Corps volunteers and staff organize business plan competitions for the students so that they can demonstrate their hard work throughout the year and have the opportunity to expand their business if they wish to do so. The competitions are organized at the local, regional, and national level. If a student group qualifies at the national level, they have the opportunity to participate in workshops to improve their business/business plan and receive seed money to expand their business as well.
Because I am the only business volunteer in my site, I am responsible for organizing the local competition from collecting funds to finding a venue and judges from the community. Then the group of volunteers from my region and I work together to organize the regional competition as well. Once the local competition is over, I have to help prepare the students (who placed at the local level) for the regional competition. All the while, I am still co-teaching and co-planning with my teachers from the high schools as usual. Needless to say, I am extremely busy during this time of year.
It was extremely overwhelming because I was doing it for the first time and you just have to figure it out. Two groups from my school that is in a rural community outside of the city made it to the regional level. One group's product made hats out of recycled plastic bags. Below is their display table at the competition.
The other group made a candy from one of the group member's family recipe. It was very similar to toffee, which is not common in Nicaragua.
Both of the groups did an awesome job with their presentations. Unfortunately, they were competing against 10 other groups and neither placed high enough to move on to the National competition. Overall, I was extremely proud of them. They worked really hard and I was glad that I was able to witness their growth throughout the process.
The competition was held in a city called Rivas which is located right next to the largest lake of Nicaragua and Central America. The lake contains two volcanoes in the center that make up the islands of Ometepe and is also known for containing freshwater sharks. So after the competition the students talked the teacher into taking us all to the lake for a swim. The students talked me into getting in with them, Peace Corps polo and all. It is very common for Nicas to swim in clothes. Most don't own bathing suits and just go to the beach in shorts and a t-shirt.
I ended up getting to know these kids really well because of all the time we spent working on the project together. Although we didn't win, it was an awesome experience that I will never forget. I felt very privileged to have worked with such great kids!
Towards the end of the year, the competition season begins. Peace Corps volunteers and staff organize business plan competitions for the students so that they can demonstrate their hard work throughout the year and have the opportunity to expand their business if they wish to do so. The competitions are organized at the local, regional, and national level. If a student group qualifies at the national level, they have the opportunity to participate in workshops to improve their business/business plan and receive seed money to expand their business as well.
Because I am the only business volunteer in my site, I am responsible for organizing the local competition from collecting funds to finding a venue and judges from the community. Then the group of volunteers from my region and I work together to organize the regional competition as well. Once the local competition is over, I have to help prepare the students (who placed at the local level) for the regional competition. All the while, I am still co-teaching and co-planning with my teachers from the high schools as usual. Needless to say, I am extremely busy during this time of year.
It was extremely overwhelming because I was doing it for the first time and you just have to figure it out. Two groups from my school that is in a rural community outside of the city made it to the regional level. One group's product made hats out of recycled plastic bags. Below is their display table at the competition.
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| Eko - Creaciones Plasticas (the name of the student business) |
The other group made a candy from one of the group member's family recipe. It was very similar to toffee, which is not common in Nicaragua.
Both of the groups did an awesome job with their presentations. Unfortunately, they were competing against 10 other groups and neither placed high enough to move on to the National competition. Overall, I was extremely proud of them. They worked really hard and I was glad that I was able to witness their growth throughout the process.
The competition was held in a city called Rivas which is located right next to the largest lake of Nicaragua and Central America. The lake contains two volcanoes in the center that make up the islands of Ometepe and is also known for containing freshwater sharks. So after the competition the students talked the teacher into taking us all to the lake for a swim. The students talked me into getting in with them, Peace Corps polo and all. It is very common for Nicas to swim in clothes. Most don't own bathing suits and just go to the beach in shorts and a t-shirt.
I ended up getting to know these kids really well because of all the time we spent working on the project together. Although we didn't win, it was an awesome experience that I will never forget. I felt very privileged to have worked with such great kids!
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