Kiwi Students To Take On Chile

Eight New Zealand secondary students have been selected for one of three overseas business study tours to Latin America later this year.

Students were selected to travel to Latin America after successfully competing at the Entrepreneurs in Action (EIA) business competition from June 29 – 1 July. The lucky student travelling to Chile are:

• Tiare Donelan (Garin College)
• Jake Nicholson (Mount Aspiring College)
• Kaysie Cornes (Te Aratika Academy)
• Patrick Deane (Te Kura Correspondence School)
• Mikayla Stokes (Western Springs College)
• Rachel Winder (Middleton Grange School)
• Nimue Strivens (Wa Ora Montessori)
• Macaulay Glass (Hamilton Girls’ High School)

The overseas trips are part of a partnership between Young Enterprise and the Latin America Centre for Asia Pacific Excellence (CAPE). The Latin America CAPE’s innovative mobility programmes will give these young Kiwis a deeper knowledge and understanding of Latin America, the New Zealand business ecosystems in the region and a variety of New Zealand businesses operating in Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

On these trips the students will learn about Latin American culture and business. They will meet local entrepreneurs, including those involved in some of our trade relationships. They will experience site visits to established companies and start-ups, and most excitingly, they will work with local students on thought- provoking business challenges.

At Entrepreneurs in Action, teams competed in two back-to-back challenges relating to product innovation and market entry strategy, orchestrated by sponsors Genesis Energy NZ, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Members of the winning team for each challenge won a $3000 scholarship to Massey University, and the winning team of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Challenge on Day 2 were awarded the trip to Brazil in December. Winners of the trips to Chile (October) and Colombia (January) were chosen individually and were selected based on their performance over the weekend, and a supplementary video application.

EIA participants were chosen from the 3800+ participants in The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme programme that spans the entire school year. Of those 3800+, 246 applied to compete in the event with only the top 80 students being selected from across New Zealand.

New Zealand has a great track record for fresh thinking initiatives on the world stage. These trips are an investment in young New Zealanders; to enhance their intercultural business acumen, understanding of the importance of Latin America to New Zealand’s future, and to inspire them to be the next generation of young entrepreneurs!

Contact:

Ella Roche | Communications Manager | Young Enterprise | 027 522 4540