Students Learn Business and Team Building Skills Thanks to the Suncor Energy Foundation

25 Grade 6/7 students from Rock City Elementary School in Nanaimo, BC. Learned both business and team building skills this past December as part of JABC’s Business of Our Own Program.

In an area where many students face challenging social and poverty issues, teacher Lonny Sullivan and JABC Volunteer Matt Paulo from TD Auto Finance worked together to give students an understanding of planning a business, promoting their products and managing  a team. The program ended with a Sale Day for students sell their finished products.

This year students made and sold necklaces, bracelets, candle holders and coloured glass decorations.  The class generated $1,500 in sales and gave a portion to charity.  Student Fatima Diane Douhaibi, who unexpectedly became a solopreneur when her partner moved away, said, “I did it! I knew I could!”

This Business of Our Own program was made possible thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from the Suncor Energy Foundation. JABC was selected as a charity of choice by the employees of Suncor terminals across B.C.