Scottish Catholic Observer

Budding entrepreneurs from St Vincent’s Primary School in East Kilbride have raised more than £4000 for a charity that helps people living in poverty in Western Africa.

A series of sound investments from the young pupils has led to them winning the micro-tyco challenge—a project to raise money for the WildHearts in Action charity, founded by East Kilbride man Mick Jackson.

Following a visit to St Vincent’s by Mr Jackson—at which he spoke to pupils on the difficulties faced by those in poverty  and how his charity uses micro finance to lend money to women in Western Africa to help them start their own businesses—a group of primary seven girls were inspired to do what they could to help out.

Pushing for profits

Towards the end of last term Robyn Conlan, Bethan Malley, Olivia Beaton, Stephanie Devine, Astrid Corkill and Amna Assed attended a meeting at South Lanarkshire Council headquarters in Hamilton to receive £1 from Mr Jackson’s charity and were informed they would have a month to make as large a profit as possible.

The girls reported the challenge back to their classmates and were met with ‘overwhelming enthusiasm,’ with each pupil eager to take up the challenge and play their part in helping those less fortunate than themselves.

The pupils decided the best approach would be ‘to think outside the box’ and—noticing spare apples from a PTA fundraiser—decided to make and sell chocolate apples within the school.

An initial profit of £55 was made, which led to the purchase of more ingredients and the sale of more chocolate apples to their counterparts at neighbouring Crosshouse Primary School, who were visiting St Vincent’s for a special assembly.

A series of further fundraising activities were quickly arranged by the youngsters, who managed to raise almost £1000 in one evening by selling CDs, books, games, handmade cards and home baking at a parents’ evening.

To further increase their burgeoning profits the pupils decided to write to local and national companies to explain their project and ask them for potential raffle prizes.

Amongst the responses the youngsters were delighted to hear from John McGuire, managing director of Phoenix Car Company, who agreed to take a pound from the school and auction a car in the name of St Vincent’s. A group of 11 pupils attended the car auction and were ecstatic to witness their car being auctioned for £1200. Many of Mr McGuire’s colleagues were also delighted to take part in the fundraising and raised money for WildHearts in Action through a number of various activities.

“All the children were fantastic and very inspirational,” Mr McGuire said. “We all thought it was fantastic for them to take the initiative to write to us and I was very pleased that my staff all bought into the project and raised money for them.

“We all got a boost from it as well and I think we have seen some future business leaders at St Vincent’s.”

Prizes and praise

As a result of their supreme fundraising efforts the pupils will be awarded with a prize at Glasgow’s Blythswood Hotel on Monday (January 24).

Speaking before the award, the six girls who began the project reflected with fondness on all the hard work undertaken by St Vincent’s and were full of praise for Mr Jackson’s inspiring talk.

Astrid Corkill commented that the most memorable experience of the project was the whole aspect of ‘working together for a good cause.’

St Vincent’s staff noticed the pupils gaining valuable lifelong skills as their project grew and grew including leadership, communication and co-operation.

“The entire St Vincent’s school community has supported this very worthwhile enterprise challenge to raise funds for WildHearts in Action,” Eileen Tompkins, St Vincent’s, acting headteacher, said. “It has been a positive experience for all involved and highlighted the ‘business genius and creativity’ of the pupils involved and the generosity and ‘can do’ culture that we foster in our school.”

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Pic: Dan McGinty