GEORGE TOWN: THE students from the 16 secondary schools displayed high levels of enthusiasm. They were part of the Young Enterprise Achievers Sales fair which showcased the products the students created using recycled items.
Hand-drawn T-shirts, bags, dream catchers, key chains and even essential oils were on sale.
The fair was part of the Young Enterprise Programme which is a community educational programme under the auspices of the Malaysian-American Chamber of Commerce.
It was introduced in Malaysia in 1989 and launched in Penang the following year.
Sponsored by companies, the programme teaches students to become entrepreneurs.
Each company will provide at least four advisers, representing a broad cross-section of the various business disciplines including finance, administration, marketing and production.
The schools that took part in the programme were SMK Convent Pulau Tikus (AMD Global Services was the sponsor); SMK Seberang Jaya (Flextronics Technology Penang); SMJK Sacred Heart (Motorola Solutions); SMJK Convent Datuk Keramat (Penang Seagate Industries); SMJK Phor Tay (Agilent Technologies); SMK Abdullah Munshi (Universiti Sains Malaysia); SMK Kampong Kastam (Dell Asia Pacific); SMJK Perempuan Cina Pulau Pinang (Western Digital Media Malaysia); SMK Tun Hussein Onn (First Solar Malaysia); SMK Dato Hj Mohamad Nor Ahmad (Wawasan Open University); SMJK Chung Ling (HGST Technologies); SMK Bukit Jambul (Federal Express Services); SMKA (L) Al-Mashoor (Plexus Manufacturing); SMK Convent Green Lane (Schenker Logistics); SMJK Union (Osram Opto Semiconductors); and SMK (P) Methodist (Intel Technology).
Administrator of the Young Enterprise programme (northern region) Datuk Tang Hon Yin said the programme gives students plenty of opportunity to explore the world of business.
“When we first started the programme, we received complaints from parents saying that it was a waste of time. However, over the years, they saw how their children were benefiting from it,” said Tang.
“We want to give the students a taste of entrepreneurship and teach them to have the right attitude for this field which includes overcoming fears.
“It’s not all about how much profit you make, it’s the experience that matters,” he added.
The event was held at First Avenue Mall and officiated by Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik.
Among the eye-catching products were SMK Phor Tay students’ functional yet stylish handbags made from recycled plastic straps.