Saddique, a 7th grade student was overjoyed to have sold SR100 items in a matter of few minutes of the opening of TREP$ Marketplace, an innovative entrepreneurial program organized by Prince Salman Science Oasis (PSSO) at a newly-opened Panorama Mall in Riyadh, at the weekend. The event, aimed at honing the skills of young children to be successful human beings in life attracted huge number of families belonging to various nationalities. Al-Saddique learnt baking from his mother in the after-school hours. As a pastime while at home the teenager spent some time in the kitchen with his mother, who taught him how to make biscuits, cookies and cup-cakes. “I always tend to be creative and love to learn new things,” said the teenager. Al-Saddique was not alone to have utilized his leisure time in something creative and learning new skills. Faisal Rustom, another Saudi teenager, said he learnt skills to sell things with low investment and make money. However, his ambition in life is to become a medical doctor. While Nawaf Al-Khudairy (10) displays slogans reading, “The best cup-cake in the whole world… you gotta to taste my best cookies in the world.” Other children displayed products that include video games, toys and fresh fruit juice among many other items. There were around 110 schoolchildren from a number of Saudi and international community schools that participated with their creations offered on sale at the two-and-half-hour TREP$ Marketplace. Ehsan Zafer, Program Manager, PSSO said prior to holding TREP$ Marketplace a weekly workshop that continues for seven weeks was organized under the theme of ‘Business and Science' for schoolchildren between age groups of eight to 18. “Each workshop offered a motivational experience for the budding young professionals who primarily were inspired and learned about product development, business math, advertising, marketing and salesmanship,” he said. The basic aim was to inculcate creativity and life skills, develop leadership qualities, and learn to achieve targets in life, he said. Students' skills were put to test at TREP$ Marketplace when they took up the challenge for being a businessman, he said. Over 100 stalls were set up with attractive products and services – all developed, marketed and sold by young entrepreneurs, he said. Students participating in the event were from Najd School, Al-Ghad School, King Faisal School, Al-Rowad International School, Education International School, United International School, Al-Rissalah International School, Al-Meena International School School, Daral Uloom School and King Abdulaziz International School. Dr. Khalid A. Taher, PSSO Supervisor General, said the idea behind TREP$ Program is to develop entrepreneurship among the students from a young age. He said a number of factors have been incorporated in the program with a vision to empower today's children with a mindset to become tomorrow's successful entrepreneurs. He said the children are taught to achieve a broader understanding in the career they want to pursue and become a successful human being. He said all the workshops were conducted strictly taking into consideration the culture norms of the Saudi society. Students shed all inhibitions, develop social and behavioral skills, learn good mannerism, how to care and help others, he said. The driving force behind the entire idea of ‘learning through experiences' is Prince Salman, Emir of Riyadh,” he said. Several parents accompanying their children said they would cherish the experience. A mother of a eight-old boy was so ecstatic to see his son acting as a ‘young salesman,' engaged in marketing the products at one of the stalls. Unable to hide her passion she was repeatedly hugging her son.
