A first-hand account from Virgile Volclair, Secondary 5 student and member of Second Soap in the 2023 Company Program.
At first glance, starting a business might seem intimidating to some kids, but in reality, it’s an incredible opportunity to explore who you are and do what you love. As a young entrepreneur in Second Soap, a non-profit created as part of JA Quebec’s Company Program, I can tell you that it’s a unique opportunity and an exciting experience. Second Soap collects and recycles soap from hotels and redistributes them to those in need. This entrepreneurial experience lets us develop our creativity, our innovation and our ability to take risks to carry out our ideas. It’s also a way to develop our leadership, communication, problem-solving and cooperation skills.
We’re developing a lot of entrepreneurial values with this type of project, because we are focusing on the specific needs of our community so we can solve their problems. We are learning to be persevering and continue working toward our goals despite obstacles; to be creative and find innovative solutions to problems; to be empathetic and understand other people’s needs; and, to be socially responsible and create a difference in our world. By exploring our passions and offering solutions to problems in our community, we’re becoming not just entrepreneurs, but also conscientious citizens who are helping to build a better society. This real-world entrepreneurial experience with JA Quebec is a golden opportunity to offer kids the chance to develop valuable skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives and that will enable them to make a difference in this world.
JA Quebec’s Company Program offers Secondary 4 and 5 students the opportunity to participate in an incredible entrepreneurial experience. The program focuses on starting a business as a team and is offered as an in-school or after-school activity. In the after-school version, students are coached by business advisors one night a week for 20 weeks throughout all stages of their business, including starting, running and liquidating the business (business plan, finances, human resources, production, sales, making a website, and promotion). In the in-school version, the program is run by the teacher in the classroom. It also allows students to explore the advantages and risks of starting a business, stimulate a positive relationship with the business world, learn the benefits of teamwork and a sense of responsibility, and develop their self-confidence, creativity and leadership skills. In the program, they meet and talk with mentors from the business world and learn how to network.
Many contests and complementary activities are offered throughout the program, and the top teams participating in them can win financial awards and prizes at the Future Business Leaders Annual Gala in May. JA Quebec also offers them the opportunity to run booths at trade fairs and participate in the COJEQ Young Entrepreneurs Conference held on March 17, 18 and 19, 2023.