During the past year, 6 Year14 students from Ballyclare High School (Grammar) have been involved in the Achievers International Programme. This programme is organised by ‘Achievers International’ in Scotland and overseen by the NEELB. Through this programme the students are encouraged to be involved in ‘enterprise’ by setting up and running their own business. In order to introduce the element of exporting and importing goods, they have been linked with the Gottlob Munsinger Oberschule in Berlin. Initially the teacher co-ordinator, Mrs Branagh visited the school in Berlin to discuss the way forward and to develop a business plan. Throughout the year the pupils from both schools contact each other via the e-mail system, by telephone and via video conference which is very successful and gives the students from both schools an opportunity to see each other and ask questions.

Throughout the year many events took place including exporting various goods to our partner school in Berlin as well as providing goods for our ‘home market’. These included providing a tuck shop at the PTA Disco, selling toffee apples at Halloween, an Easter raffle and selling various Christmas goods.

The pupils have learnt a great deal about business over the past year and it has certainly given them an insight into running their own business and the problems that they could face. Their dedication and commitment are to be commended and while they have learnt a lot over the past year, it has also been fun. It also gave them a chance to trade using the Euro and the problems this caused!! On the whole this has been a wonderful experience for the pupils and a very worth while one.

In June, 5 of the students and Mrs Branagh went to the Awards Ceremony for Achievers International at the British Embassy in Berlin. The students gave an excellent PowerPoint presentation on what they had been doing throughout the year which was extremely well received by those who attended, including the British Ambassador for Germany.

The profits, which exceeded £1000.00, are to be given to the ‘British Red Cross’. While it is not part of the Achievers International Programme that the profits are given to charity, many of the schools involved keep the profits for themselves, our students have always felt this an important part of their ability to help others. The students decided to choose this charity as they were very moved by the Beslan School Siege at the beginning of September last year when they formed their company. The British Red Cross in Northern Ireland were one of the charities supporting this cause at that time and so they wanted to give the money to help towards this. They would also like to take the opportunity to thank the British Red Cross for their tireless work in supporting those less fortunate that ourselves.