Many people want to open a successful small business, not many do it while they are still at school. Even less open one on school grounds.
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A group of year 12 Catholic College Bendigo students have launched a thriving cafe at the school’s campus in central Bendigo.
Student Molly McDonald said students taking the school’s work related skills subject had doubled their original investment in seven working days.
“We originally planned to do it for a month. If it is running really well we might keep going until the end of the year,” she said.
The cafe is open before school and during lunchtime.
Allie Henshaw said it did a busy trade in coffee, hot chocolate and even the occasional biscuit.
She said students are responsible for everything from organising rosters to marketing and, of course, helping out during trading hours.
“We all have different skills to contribute. All the guys made the crates that we are sitting on, and did the tables,” Ms McDonald said.
Chloe Butcher said the project was funded by the Foundation for Young Australians’ $20 Boss program, which gave each class member $20 dollars to invest.
“It could have been unsuccessful. Then we would have had pay the money back out of our own pockets,” she said.
And the cafe did not just show kids how to run a business.
“I don’t think my career will be in cafes. But this is teaching me all these people and money skills, which will help me find work when I leave school,” Ms Henshaw said.