Close to two dozen new trades opened for business today at Coconut Walk, Rockley, Christ Church for the first ever BEF Columbus $20 Challenge Market Place.
The 20 groups of teenagers, including 40 students from eight schools, sold from healthy homemade 
smoothies and natural juices, sweet treats, creative Hanna designs to luxury spa treatments, to raise the public profile of this year’s $20 Challenge participants as well as to gain some insight and hands-on experience in the marketplace.
Vice president of marketing, sales and communications, Shelly Ann Hee Chung said, “We are so very proud to be the title sponsor this initiative the BEF is doing. What we are seeing here today not only showcases what our very talented and brings young people are doing in this year’s $20 Challenge competition, but it also allows them to test their sales skills in a ‘real life’ commercial environment, take note from what their peers are doing and walking away with invaluable knowledge.”
Hee Chung added, “These experiences are not only essential for entrepreneurship, enterprise and business development but they also teach fundamental personal growth. This is why we are a part of this amazing programme with the BEF.”
Participating schools included The Codrington College, Darryl Jordan Secondary School and Lockerbie College; Ellerslie Secondary School, The St Michael School and The St Winnifred’s School; The Springer Memorial Secondary School and Queen’s College.
The BEF Columbus $20 Challenge has been giving 4th and 5th form students across the island a chance to launch their very own business since September 2011.