• RIS’ ‘Kidspreneur’ event will see students as young as 8 produce, market and sell their products and services to the larger community
  • The initiative will also have students interviewing SME business owners from Dubai on entrepreneurship through the integration of the school’s innovative talk show series ‘Think & Thrive’
  •  'Kidspreneuer’ will focus on sustainability and highlight the importance of small businesses on the community at large while giving children a real-world experience

DUBAI: In an inspiring and unique initiative to give children a hands-on, real-world experience of business and entrepreneurship, Regent International School (RIS), one of the leading British curriculum schools in Dubai, will organise a special Young Entrepreneur Market titled ‘Kidspreneur’.

The event – to be held on a bigger scale than ever before on March 18, 2023, at the RIS football pitch in The Greens, Emirates Living Community – will see students as young as 8 years wear a businessperson’s hat, and market and sell products and services they have themselves designed and created.

The objective of the exercise is to ensure students get a practical ‘up, close and personal’ taste of the way the world of business operates as well as highlight the influence of sustainable small enterprises on the community. Approx. 50 stalls will be set up at the grounds where these bright young business enthusiasts will pitch for the attention of shoppers and community members by displaying and marketing their wares. 

Additionally, they will also get an opportunity to interact with noted Dubai-based SME entrepreneurs through the introduction of Regent’s innovative talk session, ‘Think & Thrive’ at the event. A programme that brings students and industry leaders on one platform for an engaging conversation, over the last several months, the ‘Think & Thrive’ series has featured personalities from myriad fields who share their success stories with the young generation. Some prominent leaders who have made their presence felt include John Lacey, MENA Head, Tencent Games, Laila Abdulatif, Director General, Emirates Wildlife - WWF, Member, Emirates Circular Economy Council, Anna Germanos, Head of Retail, Meta MENA, Ms. Suparna Menon, Partner, IBM iX Customer Transformation Leader, Middle East Africa, and Mike Fairburn, General Manager, Sony Music MENA to name just a few.

Commenting on the innovative event, Matt Flynn, Deputy Head of EYFS and Key Stage 1, Regent International School said “Kidspreneur is an important event for us not just as a means to bring the community together, but also to help our students experience how to develop their own products and services from start to finish, as well as market and sell them at a profit. This year with the integration of our ‘Think & Thrive’ series, we're also giving them a real-world perspective into setting up a business while keeping sustainability and the community in mind," said Matt Flynn, Deputy Head of EYFS and Key Stage 1, Regent International School.

The RIS Kidspreneur will see 6 business owners, each of whom have contributed towards sustainable causes through their ventures, being interviewed by students on what it means to be an entrepreneur. The speakers include:

Jerome Viricel, General Manager, Recapp:

A well-rounded entrepreneur with extensive experience in different sectors, Jerome is General Manager at Recapp for Veolia Middle East where he is in charge of leading the development of innovative mobile applications.

Richa Bansal, Founder & CEO of EcoBee  

An entrepreneur with a passion for the environment, Richa is the founder of EcoBee, which focuses on unique ecological products and workshops to engage, involve, and motivate youth toward sustainability. 

Iman Suguitan, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Co Chocolat  

Iman Suguitan is the co-founder of Co Chocolat that specialises in the art of making delicious yet healthy chocolates and cocoa gastronomy, as well as the force behind an agricultural social enterprise that has transformed the lives of cacao farmers in the Philippines. 

 Pooja Sharma Kautia, Founder, Organiq Living and Regent Parent  

A sustainable lifestyle expert Pooja Sharma looks after Organiq Living, an online store selling and promoting organic and sustainable lifestyle products in the UAE.

 Reiner Egels, Co-Founder and General Manager, Wofl

Reiner Egels has played an important role in the growth and expansion of Wofl, a home-grown café specialising in waffles, inspired by the Nordic culinary tradition that has carved a special niche for itself among foodies with its quaint community-centric outlets.

 Zeyno Gurses Dolay, Business Development Manager, HeroGo  

A business development strategist, gastronomy curator, columnist, author and consultant, Zeyno leads business development at HeroGo, a food-tech platform delivering reclaimed fruits and vegetables to communities, corporates, hotels, and catering companies to reduce food waste.

Aligning with the ethos of ‘Positive Education’ that forms the core of all initiatives and activities at RIS, the one-day event thrusts the spotlight on SMEs and sustainability while nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit among its young future business leaders.  

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Entry is free and open to the community. For more information on Regent Internation School visit risdubai.com

ABOUT REGENT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

A future-focused international school set in the heart of Emaar’s Greens Community, Regent International School (RIS) is part of Fortes Education, a legacy group that has been operating renowned centres of excellence like Sunmarke School and Jumeirah International Nurseries since 1981. Over the years,  RIS has established itself as one of the best British schools in Dubai where Positive Education (PosEd) - a concept that lays emphasis on strong, value-based education and character development along with academic and personal accomplishments – forms the core of all its activities and programmes.