Wicklow Montessori Primary School Wins Junior Enterprise Award

Wicklow Montessori Primary School received an award in the All-Island Junior Entrepreneur Programme Awards.

Fifth and Sixth class at Wicklow Montessori Primary School, Ballyguile Beg, Wicklow Town received the Genius Product Award for their JEP business “Are We There Yet?” in the All-Island Junior Entrepreneur Programme Awards announced today. The award acknowledges the innovation behind the Big Idea chosen for the JEP class project and the hard work and creativity that goes into producing an original product; the Genius Product is an innovative product made to a high standard with a clear understanding of the target market.

“Are We There Yet?” is a travel activity and entertainment kit for children including fun toys, a colouring book, brain games, and fidgets, all packed in a very attractive, customised drawstring bag. The class secured a loan from the school Board of Directors to get the project off the ground,  assuring them that it would be repaid in full and that they were also investing their own money in the venture. They held sales events in Wicklow town and at the school and sold out of their product in under 3 hours. They made a profit of  €546 euros. The class generously donated their profits to the Down Syndrome Centre, Sandyford.

Thousands of Irish entrepreneurs have mentored 5th and 6th-class primary school pupils while they create and launch mini businesses in their schools. Children are inspired by local entrepreneurs invited to the classroom to share their stories.  EY Entrepreneur of the Year Alumni also volunteer their time to visit schools in their counties.

Marie Lynch, the co-founder and Managing Director of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, said that over 12,000 Irish primary school children have launched classroom businesses this year as part of their participation in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme. Leveraging their combined talents and innate creativity with the skills they develop on the programme, they work together as a class to create original products and launch a real business from the classroom. “JEP has become a rite of passage for children in primary schools before they move on to secondary school.” “The class develops a lasting bond by working together to experience real-world success. For many, it is the highlight of their primary school years”, she added.