Pupils score big in micro challenge
Published Tuesday 31st January 2012
Pupils from East Kilbride have beaten more than 500 other teams at a national entrepreneurial challenge.
Mossneuk Primary and St Andrew's and St Bride's Secondary pupils were taking part in the Micro-Tyco Challenge, which this year was open to companies, colleges, universities and primary and secondary school teams from all over the UK.
Launched last year in South Lanarkshire, the Challenge - organised by WildHearts - gave participants a loan of one pound and asked them to make as much money as they could through using their own initiative, skills and creativity.
All the money raised from the challenge - which generated more than £93,000 - will be used to help others in developing countries work their own way out of poverty by setting up micro-businesses.
Mossneuk Primary raised a fantastic £3743.96 which put them third in the national competition while St Andrew's and St Bride's were 5th overall with £3163.16.
Mick Jackson, founder of WildHearts, a charity which gives micro-loans and business training to some of the poorest people in the world, was very impressed with the potential of the young people involved in the challenge.
He said: "When you consider that these pupils were up against some of the biggest names in global business they have all performed extraordinarily well.
"The pupils from South Lanarkshire have filled me with hope for the future. They have been truly inspirational and if we can harness and encourage children and young people through projects like this, then they will lead the way for Scotland on a global stage.
"It will encourage children not only to believe in their own abilities but to become adults who also understand the importance of helping the disadvantaged help themselves.
"It has been a pleasure working with South Lanarkshire schools again. I firmly believe if we want to have great schools, we have to encourage enterprise and that is what this challenge has been all about."
Mossneuk pupils managed to make their fortune by arranging a PJ Day for the whole school, Cash for Clothes collection, Tyco Tuesday - a film showing event with popcorn in the style of Orange Wednesdays , a P4-7 Fun Day, a bag packing at M and S in the Town Centre and a Family Fun Night at the Byre Bar and Restaurant.
Councillor Mary Smith, the chair of the council's Education Resources Committee, said: "This has been a truly inspirational project. Encouraging pupils to use their own initiative and giving them the freedom to make their own choices is invaluable to teach life skills and to foster enterprise.
"The amount of money raised in this challenge has been astronomical and the thought and care given to each school's social enterprises has been of a professional standard.
"The Micro Tyco Challenge has been a huge success and has encouraged ambition, creativity and teamwork in all the teams involved."
A total of 18 schools in South Lanarkshire took part in the challenge and they all got together recently at Council HQ to discuss their experiences of the competition.
The South Lanarkshire Schools involved were:
- Auchinraith Primary
- Auldhouse Primary
- Biggar High
- Calderside Academy
- Carluke High
- Cathkin High
- Crosshouse Primary
- Kirktonholme Primary
- Kittoch Primary
- Loch Primary
- Mossneuk Primary
- Rigside and rural communities Nursery
- St Andrew's and St Bride's High
- St Blane's Primary
- St John's Primary
- Strathaven Academy
- Trinity High
- Universal Connections
