The Champions of the NKF - Social Entrepreneurship Program
In line with our efforts to equip our youths with a holistic education, the Champions of the NKF programme was launched in 1997 by former Minister for Education, RAdm Teo Chee Hean, to inculcate strong moral values in children and teach them essential life skills. Extending its theme of inculcating essential skills, the programme this year 2004, focuses on Social Entrepreneurship and Money Sense.
ITE-ASHRAE students Jeffrey Ang, Ikram, Zi Yuan and Kimberley participated in this competition and this competition also drew over 400 students from different schools and institutes to submit their ideas for innovative businesses in aid of social causes.
The students brainstormed together and came out with a plan. In their project proposal, they spelt out clearly the plan with achievable goals and objectives, with research and analysis as well as the time frame for the project implementation and business strategy.
The team also factored in the element of appropriate budgeting and team management to achieve their possible business.
The team was excited when their business proposal was selected by the judging panel and they were given an opportunity to proceed to the final round of the competition. In the final round of the competition, the team was to present heir business idea to a team of judges comprising mainly the businessmen and businesswomen in Singapore.
Zi Yuan & Kimberly in action
Jeffrey and Ikram ...the dream team...
Advice from the lecturer Mr Derrick Cheong
the team pose in front of the camera
Essentially, they used the idea of doing air con units servicing and repairing for HDB dwellers and factory units owners. In their presentation to the judges, they mentioned that they would choose to solicit business by doing "cold calls" and go knocking doors at the HDB units, which were quite different from the usual ways to advertise or to get business deal. They would then facilitate the revenue generated to expand their business horizon in retail and fashion industry. They would also channelled some of the money to welfare organisations and needy community.
Their business idea obtained the support from the judges as it clearly met the business strategy as well as the social elements of the competition criteria.
The team acclaimed the 2 nd prize in the post-secondary category and they proudly took the awards from Mrs Goh on the prize winning ceremony.
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