I am always amazed how God provides unique opportunities to present Prakash 4 India to a new and unusual audience. Since moving to Montana I have been attending Water Aerobics three times a week. Out of the blue, my instructor asked me if I would give two lectures to Biz Kidz at the college. It is an entrepreneurial program for young kids.
She told me she wanted to make sure I presented Prakash as part of my lectures. The program is a 10-10-80 concept . . . 10% for savings, 10% for giving away, and 80% to refurbish inventory and have to spend on themselves.
I started with four What If’s:
What If . . . you invented something that made you a gazillon dollars? I told them that a colleague of mine’s father invented Velcro. Ohhh WOW!!!
What If . . . you did something to make your business unique or set apart? I shared how Loren and I turned Harts Furniture into a boutique furniture and design store. So unique for its time that we were in five magazines.
Also, how I went for a graduate degree in Color. It made a magnificent economical impact on my design business.
What If . . . you did something to solve a problem that would make your business a success? I told the story of how I came up with the idea of moving my Doncaster clothing business to a motor coach. Showing then before and after pictures certainly got their attention.
But the biggest What If . . . is what if you did something to improve the life the disadvantaged and marginalized here in the US or in a foreign country?
I showed them a picture of Sheshi’s new house so the knew what I meant by marginalized. That made reality set in. They had tons of questions.
Prakash was founded with a What If we built a school to teach young orphaned and marginalized Indian men a Technical Trade so they could get a job. Thirty-five years later, RGI was founded with a What If we did the same thing for girls.
I showed them several things that the RGI girls have made. I have used them for gifts and sold some. BUT the one that really got the kids attention was the toilet paper cardboard inside that was made into a pencil and penholder. When I explained that Indians do not use toilet paper, which brought a whole new level of questions and giggles. LOL They became very intense about how they could help.
All in all, it was delightful to see how kids get it. Giving is such a needed attribute that certainly needs to be taught in today’s world. Thank you Jesus for such a wonderful opportunity.
Later in the week I received this email:
Hello,
Our Biz Kidz expo Saturday at the Farmers’ Market was a roaring success. Again thank you for your mentor ship.
We had 16 students who sold their creative, handmade, unique products with great marketing skills and with exuberant confidence.
It was heart-warming to see their countenance shine with each sale.
The numbers from Saturday:
average revenue was $90
average profit was $58
Average number of customers was 20
and in all they gave $87 to charity! Donating 10% to the charity of their choice, in my mind, is the most impactful part of their learning experience.
Next Saturday we have 14 students selling their wares at the last of three Biz Kidz Expo at the Kalispell Farmers’ Market.
Thank you for the team effort in creating a rich learning experience for the students and their families. It couldn’t have been done without your corporate effort!
Gratefully,
Janita
