From July 2017 onwards, 22 students of Year 1 and 2 of the IBDP at G.D Goenka World School have been taking part in an internationally recognised Business Enterprise competition. The students have created and are running a business that supports an NGO, Action Centre for Transformation (ACT). ACT is an organisation that works for the benefit of rural women. The name of the business is Arté de Maño, which is Spanish for handcrafted goods. The students are raising money for the NGO by creating and selling handcrafted goods. The start up capital was raised from the recycle drives and currently, the revenue of the business is 5 times the amount of initial investment.
They have sold their goods by putting up stalls at Diwali melas and the Nirvana Courtyard. The goods range from handmade phone covers, scented candles, painted Diya’s, candle holders, bracelets, rings and LED magnetic toys for children. The proceeds will be collectively forwarded to the NGO at the completion of the competition in November 2017. This initiative really helped the students understand the market and how to handle a business. It has strengthened the skills of the students who are actively involved in the operations of the business.
The students have also created a Facebook page for the business: artedemanobyGDGWS. To place orders, contact them at: artedemanogdgws@gmail.com
Keerit Singh & Rhea Bhargava
IBDP Year 2 students
