Splendid Soiree takes the Shafia London challenge

Last Friday, June 24 Shafia London was unable to be physically present at an event which bears her name due to the current vagaries being experienced with the Caribbean airline industry. Instead she had to address the closing ceremony of the Girls’ High School Shafia London Business Challenge virtually.

London, who is currently based in Barbados told the third form students that the idea for the Shafia London Business Challenge was brought to her by the business department of the Girls High School. It was not for sponsorship, but to examine and make recommendations towards it becoming a viable programme.

“As soon as I saw the concept, I fell in love with it,” London told the gathering. “I fell in love with it because it would provide an opportunity for you young ladies…”

According to head of the business department at the GHS, Latoya De Roche-John as she addressed last Friday’s ceremony, “The first edition of the Shafia London Business Challenge was a tremendous success. Students, thank you first of all for making back your investment and adding 26.7 percent more to our pot. The creativity, sales pitches, products, and events all injected some fun and creativity to the third term.”

Deroche-John told the students that some of them are going to reflect on the mistakes made and what could have been done better, or on how well they did for, “It was a very time consuming exercise that I hope was also very fulfilling for our judges.”

The judges, Kevin Dickson; Villette Howard-Browne; and Vynnette Frederick were thankful that, “this opportunity was offered to the third form students, so that every student could experience the sweet taste of business before the fourth form.”

A winning group was selected from each form three. In Form 3 -Dougan, Visu Connect; Form 3- Horne, Velore; Form -3 Browne, Sal; Form -3 Bowman,Dazzle and Shine; and Form -3 Debique, Splendid Soiree.

Thanking Shafia London for her sponsorship, De Roche-John said: “Shafia, your alma mater thanks you from deep down for demonstrating tangibly your commitment to St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ future. Your generosity has allowed an entire year group (136 girls) from varying socio-economic backgrounds, a fair fighting chance at success.”

Taking the pinnacle of success at the inaugural Shafia London Business Challenge was Form- 3 Debique’s Splendid Soiree, having amassed a total of 88.5 percentage points. The members of the winning group are : Rachel Saunders, Nellise McClean, K’ha Raena Saunders, Kate-Lynn Bobb, Aydole Fraser, and Colicia Stapleton, with Camille Crichton as mentor.

McClean said, “I feel very proud of myself and my group members for coming this far in the competition.”

Colicia Stapleton said, “I am very excited and very happy about my group’s achievements.”

And K’ha Raena Saunders said, “I am very intrigued that we won the competition…I am looking forward to more coming out of our group.”

Rachel Saunders’ comments were: “I am very overwhelmed that I won and I am very proud of myself and my group.”

While Kate-Lynn Bobb was “…speechless when we won because I was kind of expecting it but, still came as a surprise.”

And, Aydole Fraser felt “amazing.”

The group’s mentor, Camille Crichton was elated at the achievement of the students, saying, “I am pleasantly surprised. The girls did extremely well. They worked very hard for it was challenging especially during their exams…

“ They cooperated and I did not have to do the actual work, I guided them.”

She said she believes their business idea, ‘event management’ is a very good but, “they are going into fourth form and it depends on time when they will have it again”.

Crichton added, “I think it is going to help them no matter what area they choose, and I hope that somehow or the other that they continue the project.”

Teacher of Form-3 Debique, Tonya Pompey told SEARCHLIGHT, “I am very proud of Splendid Soiree. They worked hard and did an excellent job.”

She said that the Shafia London Business Challenge created an opportunity for them not to have to rely on a business place…as it gave them that option to be entrepreneurs “…and I hope that they continue in the future.”

The Shafia London Business Challenge which ran from May 3-23 was open to form-3 students of the GHS giving them an opportunity to manage and operate a small business of their own.

They were placed in small groups, assigned mentors, and provided with start-up capital. This had to be repaid at the end of the challenge and become a revolving fund for future students in business studies. Additionally, 60 percent of the profit made went to the students and 40 per cent to the school.