My unforgettable journey began in January of this year when I was given the opportunity to travel from St. Bonaventure University, NY to Grand Bahamas Island to complete a seven-week student teaching practicum at St. Vincent De Paul Primary School. Along with my teaching responsibilities, four other student teachers and I engaged in social entrepreneurship projects through after-school and community service projects at the Young Men’s Training Association (YMTA) building in Hunters, Grand Bahamas.  

During those seven weeks, we served as mentors, tutors, and supervisors for the local youth.   Due to the impact that the children had on us, and we felt we had on them, we had high hopes of coming back during the summer to organize a summer camp at the YMTA building. Our main goal was to provide a safe, educational and enjoyable facility for the children.

We used skills developed through our work in St. Bonaventure’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization to design our plans. Our vision became a reality with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Freeport, GB. The Rotary became a large factor in providing resources needed to return and run the camp. Generous support was also provided through community leaders in Hunters.

In June 2007, I and two other St. Bonaventure students, Bethany Ryan and Colleen Irving, began week one of the six week summer camp we had hoped for. We quickly organized several educational and recreational activities for the broad age range of campers. Activities included math and writing exercises, science experiments, computer training, character education and the Rotary four-way test. The four-way test was developed for employees to follow in their business and professional lives. It is a guide for sales, production, advertising, and relations with customers.

Our primary focus for the first hour and a half of camp each day was preparing the campers for their upcoming school year. Students then engaged in activities such as basketball, relay races, scavenger hunts, water activities and various outdoor games. Students were also given the opportunity to experience what it is like to run a small business through Operation Lemonade. A short session on business concepts was introduced to the campers as they split up into groups to create their very own lemonade stand. They created posters advertising their business, came up with a slogan to help sell their product and decided on a price. The campers then ventured out into their community to sell their product. The project was a huge success, as the students profit doubled what they had invested.

It’s safe to say that I am going to truly miss the students’ smiling faces running through the doors of the YMTA building each and every day. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Freeport, NY REAL, Cattaraugus County BOCES, and St. Bonaventure’s SIFE organization for their continuing encouragement and for helping make a better tomorrow.