Young entrepreneurs to win big with BizzKids

Business-minded young people stand another chance this year to bank on their ideas.
Bank Windhoek launched the seventh annual Bank Windhoek BizzKids Competition, an entrepreneurial competition designed to help schoolchildren realise their business ideas, on Monday, 13 June at Suiderhof Primary School in Windhoek.
The competition is a platform created for children across Namibia, between the ages of eight and 16, to sell and promote their own products and services. They are encouraged to enter the competition and win the opportunity to put their business savvy to the test at the Bank Windhoek BizzKids Market, scheduled to take place on 28 and 29 October at the Maerua Mall shopping centre in Windhoek.
The Bank Windhoek BizzKids Competition’s main objective is to educate the Namibian youth about entrepreneurship and give the young entrepreneurs an opportunity to enter a competition where they can win one of 10 exhibition stands at the Bank Windhoek BizzKids Market.
Last year, Danie van der Merwe (15), who traded as ‘Nou Gaan Ons Braai’, from Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP), walked away with prize money of N$5 000 for himself and N$5 000 for his school. Danie, who impressed the judges with his business acumen and sales techniques, sold handmade braai packs. The braai packs consisted of 2kg of charcoal, a packet of matches and one packet of Danie’s favourite mixed spices. This braai pack is perfect if you want to braai in just 15 minutes.
“The Bank Windhoek Solo BizzKids experience was one of the best highlights of my life and taking part in the Bank Windhoek BizzKids Competition was a great learning experience. It taught me that creating a business takes a lot of work, effort and planning, but in the end all the hard work paid off,” said Danie.
All children with great business ideas are encouraged to enter the competition and stand a chance to be crowned the 2016 BizzKids winner. It is fun and the experience is really valuable.
“The BizzKids Competition is part of Bank Windhoek’s contribution to the development and growth of Namibia’s economy by creating youth that are willing to take risks and think beyond traditional ways of doing business. It is imperative for Namibia to encourage entrepreneurship amongst the youth and by doing so decrease unemployment in the country,” said Riaan van Rooyen, the bank’s head of corporate communication and social investment.
The closing date for entries is 9 September 2016 and the finalists will be announced on 23 September.
STAFF REPORTER