In Term 3, all Year 10 Pre-IB Business Management students participated in Future Anything ACTIVATE Social Entrepreneurship program.
The "Future Anything - ACTIVATE" program has been an incredible journey that has not only enriched our business education but also ignited a newfound passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. Throughout this term-long program, we have had the remarkable opportunity to delve into the world of start-ups, turning our aspirations into tangible business applications.
In small groups, we embarked on a journey of exploration and creativity. From the very beginning, the program encouraged us to visualise our ideas, using Root Cause diagrams, to immerse ourselves in the problems that resonated deeply with us, and narrow down our focus to 'one' problem that we were truly passionate about solving.
A pivotal part of this journey has been the privilege of having a dedicated business mentor. Mick Hase's insights, personal anecdotes, and advice has provided us with invaluable guidance throughout the process and a real-world perspective on entrepreneurship.
Through the program we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the intricate process of planning a business, which has given us a holistic view of the entrepreneurial landscape. The hands-on experience of crafting a business plan, devising a marketing strategy, and developing financial projections has been immensely rewarding. It's an education that goes beyond textbooks and traditional classroom learning, providing us with practical skills that are essential for success in the real business world.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the program has been witnessing past winners' pitches, from the Activate program, transforming their ideas into tangible realities with real impacts on the world. Now, we are given the opportunity to pitch our ideas in Week 10 (to make it to the Top 40 and eventually Top 8) which will undoubtedly be an exhilarating experience, allowing us to not only showcase our creativity but also refine our communication skills.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this program is the ability to enable our passion projects manifest into reality. In the past 10 days, we all have been hectic in creating our prototype products ranging from tote bags made from recycled jeans, expandable clothes, braille flashcards for the visually impaired, bees wax straws that don't get soggy, drone technology to restore mangroves, to remote temperature monitor for cars and apps for mental wellbeing.
The program has empowered us to think critically, adapt to challenges, and embrace the iterative process of refining our ideas. With the new IB Business Management syllabus focussing on social entrepreneurship, development of soft skills, experiential learning and problem-based learning, the program's impact on us students is immeasurable, and I am excited to embark in a few months' time into studying IB Business Management in Year 11, with newfound confidence and enthusiasm!
Sophie Hirabe
Yr 10 Pre-IB Business student