By Brent Fox

The Advertiser/NovaNewsNow.com

They were enthusiastic, and successful in their different entrepreneurial endeavours.

The week-long Black Business Initiative (BBI) youth program at Gibson’s Woods included seven young people between eight and 11 years of age learning the different aspects of starting and growing a business.

The program held its practical business day on Webster Street, Kentville, mid-day Thursday, July 26.

Project coordinator Leo Cromwell said that the participants took part in many different activities to teach them aspects such as networking, marketing and how to set up their own businesses.

“One of the most exciting things was that the youths got to run their own businesses for a day,” Cromwell said.

He said the young people were really enthusiastic, to the point that one girl was disappointed that it was only for a week.

Cromwell said that the participants are encouraged to continue their education; and the public can be on the look out for the young people’s business cards in the future.

The Advertiser got to the business site just before things got really busy.

Twins Michael and Jack Andrew, both 11, were selling hot dogs, sausages and pop. They had already made about $60, so they were having “a very good day.”

Eight-year-old Maggie Andrew was selling cold lemonade in the 30C plus temperatures. “Business is going very, very well,” she said.

Shirley Hodder, 8, was experiencing the same success, finding that people really liked the freezies she was selling.

Three young fellows – Shane Bickerton, 10, John Hodder, 10, and Scott Waechter, 9 -- selling single carnations also found that there was a demand for their wares.

Shane said that “business has been going very, very, very well.” Just about everybody going by has wanted to buy flowers.

John said that some people were buying one, two or three carnations. They were only a dollar each.

Noting that business could always be better, Scott was happy with the results, and was surprised but happy that some people were even paying more than the asking price of the flowers.

Founded in 1996, the BBI is a province-wide entrepreneurship development initiative to assist start-ups and growth of businesses in the African Nova Scotian community. The vision is to create a dynamic and vibrant African Nova Scotian presence within the province’s business community.