Voantsinapy entrepreneurs are cooking up a cleaner future!

At the Voantsinapy School an Entrepreneurship Club helps students from low-income backgrounds prepare for the future. 

Through a free international educational program called School Enterprise Challenge, teacher Fenohasina and his students are guided in planning, launching, and running a sustainable business within their school. 

Fenohasina, who is a former student of the school now teaching computer science, found the program through Facebook. 

He immediately saw the value in empowering his students with entrepreneurial skills and applied for participation. 

- Having entrepreneurial skills are essential in Madagascar's challenging job market, where even educated young people often struggle to find stable employment, Fenohasina says.

- Ant it is so much fun. The students take the lead in creating and running the business, extending their learning beyond the classroom. They engage in fun and real-world experiences, cultivating valuable skills such as creativity, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership. 

- This is so much fun. The students take the lead in creating and running the business, extending their learning beyond the classroom. 

Testing ideas

The students have named their project "Cook HopeCoal. They create eco-friendly charcoal to serve as an alternative to traditional fuel sources. 

- Following a comprehensive feasibility study and careful resources assessment, the team has selected the production of eco-friendly charcoal made from clay and powdered coal as their business project, Fenohasina explains. 

- This initiative promises success due to the abundant raw materials, accessible equipment at school (with the principal's approval!), and the simplicity and safety of the production process. The product stands out as a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative to fuels like wood, charcoal, oil, and gas, and we anticipate strong demand starting within the school community.

Eager to see if their product would be effective in a real-world setting,  they have already put it to the test in the school canteen. 

Testing market research

In addition to product testing, the students gained valuable experience by conducting surveys in their neighborhood.  They asked local residents about what fuel they use  when cooking their food, when they cook, and especially about pricing, allowing them to understand the potential market for their product. 

- I was so proud watching them conduct surveys in the neighborhood, Fenohasina says. 

- They were speaking with confidence and learning to ask the right questions. It was inspiring to see them take ownership of the process.

From experimental learning to business leading

Through hands-on business development in the Entrepreneurship Club, the students learn all aspects of running a small enterprise, from product testing to profit distribution. Their eco-friendly charcoal venture serves not only as a potential income source but also as a platform for civic responsibility. 

- We want them to understand that their success can have an effect on many people, says Fenohasina. 

- By building their business, they're contributing to their families, their school, and eventually, their community.

Each package of "Cook HopeCoal" comes with a little extra—a message encouraging care for the environment, positive thinking, and helping the community. 

By deciding to split their profits to support the school, grow their business, and fund future club activities, the students are learning the importance of being open, responsible, and working together.

Building a brighter future

Thanks to the school's support and Fenohasina's guidance, the Entrepreneurship Club at Voantsinapy School is giving students real-life skills they can use far beyond school. 

In a tough job market, they're learning they have the power to create their own opportunities.