After a two-year COVID recess, the annual Social Enterprise Schools market day and showcase is returning in 2021.
Students from North East Victoria who are part of the Social Enterprise Schools program will set up market stalls at Old Beechworth Gaol on Thursday 25 November 2021 to generate profits for causes they care about.
“Despite multiple COVID disruptions and lockdowns, students in this program showed incredible fortitude, continuing to develop social enterprises throughout 2021,” said Tom Colcott, Social Enterprise Schools Learning Coordinator.
“We’re so inspired by their determination and want to showcase enterprising young people and acknowledge the teachers who support them on a learning journey. The return of our annual Social Enterprise Schools market day allows students to explain the ‘why’ behind their social enterprise. Importantly, it also offers local schools who are interested in joining this transformational program an opportunity to see Social Enterprise Schools in action.”
Social Enterprise Schools is a collaborative, hands-on program that empowers young people to make a difference to causes they care about through running their own social enterprise.
Social enterprises are businesses that trade to intentionally tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment.
Mr Colcott said primary and secondary students from North East Victoria will join the 2021 Social Enterprise Schools market day
- Beechworth Primary School: selling donuts, succulents, and bag tags: profits to Beechworth CFA
- Beechworth Montessori: selling upcycled clothes: profits to National Breast Cancer Foundation | selling hot chocolate: profits to Fight Against Hunger
- St Joseph’s, Beechworth: selling candles: profits to Maya’s Respite (respite for families with serious illness)| bath art: profits to WIRES (wildlife rescue): Christmas crackers: profits to Salvation Army
- MyrtlefordP12: selling handmade, recycled timber cheese boards: profits to Save the Sea Turtles, Surfrider Foundation | selling tie-dyed clothing: profits to Fare Share (redistributes food to the needy)| selling polymer clay jewelry: profits to Ronald MacDonald House | selling hand printed wrapping paper, natural body scrubs: profits to Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
In response to growing interest in Social Enterprise Schools, the 2021 market day includes a showcase for teachers and principals from Benalla, Wangaratta, Wooragee, Wodonga and Mansfield who are interested in joining the program in 2022.
VCAL students from Beechworth Secondary will share the story of their successful chicken parmi burger social enterprise, and innovative products developed by students from Cathedral College, Wangaratta will also be displayed.
The Social Enterprise Schools market day and showcase at Old Beechworth Gaol on Thursday 25 November 2021 is open to all, with students trading from 10am – 12pm.
Born in Scotland, Social Enterprise Schools came to Australia in 2016.
Since then, more than 4,000 students from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia have participated. Demand for Social Enterprise Schools is growing globally, with schools from Egypt, Malawi and Malaysia joining in 2021.
Nationally, the Social Enterprise Schools program is delivered by Social Enterprise Academy Australia from its headquarters at Old Beechworth Gaol. The Academy is ACRE’s enterprise and learning development partner.
For further information about Social Enterprise Schools contact
Tom Colcott, Social Enterprise Schools Learning Coordinator
tomcolcott@socialenterprise.academy | t: 0401 759 596