Balcombe Grammar School began an initiative last year that involved Year 9 students in a six week program designed to enable them to manage a budget, set up a stall within a café environment and to produce and market goods for sale.

Using a caravan and shipping containers, students embarked on an exciting array of activities. All students completed Barista training and food handling. Student products ranged included printed t-shirts, jewellery, ceramics, upcycled found materials, ceramics, Christmas themed goods, food, and soft beverages.

All goods were required to be of merchantable quality. Students worked collaboratively in groups of four to six and pitched their ideas to the teachers assisting with the program. Teachers became facilitators within the program, assisting, demonstrating and supervising each group. The designing, making and marketing processes worked within a tight time frame of six weeks. At the end of each cycle the groups set up their market stalls and sold to the public on a market night. Each time the students embarked on their ideas they also had to consider the interior design of their containers.

The profits were used to assist Opportunity International, an organisation which provides funding for small business ideas in deprived countries.

Sue Wilson
Visual Arts Teacher
Balcombe Grammar School