By KT Leong
Junior Chambers International (JCI) Kinta have kicked off on kickstarting this year’s KidStart programme.
This event will feature stalls set up and managed by kids, with products and sales being done by the kids as well. On top of that, there will be DIY Art & Craft Workshops, free health screenings, a Mind Mapping Competition, a Robotic Competition Workshop, a Lantern Making Competition, Dancing Competition and more, including a community yoga and meditation session.
The event will take place on September 7, from 8 am to 3 pm at Seri Botani International School.
KidStart is part of JCI Kinta’s flagship project, School of Hope, which started in 2017 and provided financial aid to students in need. But following the pandemic, it evolved and in 2022, came onto the scene as the Little Tauke Children’s Flea Market, where children ran their own stalls, from which they sold products and dealt with customers themselves, along the lanes on either side of Ipoh’s famous Kong Heng Restaurant, just opposite Concubine Lane. This was amidst games and performances, also organised by JCI.
In 2023, it returned as Bazaar Junior Perak at Meow Garden, with even more stalls and many activities.
This year’s KidStart looks to be the most impressive iteration yet. As it will be held at the spacious venue of Seri Botani International School, which is not only capable of handling hundreds, if not thousands, of foot traffic, but will be more comfortable as well.
Like previous years, parents can register for this project, whereby their kids will be able to participate as budding entrepreneurs. They’ll receive teachings that will help them develop their own products to be sold to the public, be it their old belongings, arts and crafts that they make themselves, products that they can buy low and sell high, or even food that they cook themselves. There will be plenty of opportunities for them to explore and learn. On top of that, they will learn the basics of financial planning, something that even many adults never figured out, as well as foster a charitable attitude, as a portion of their profits will be donated for a worthy cause.
The KidStart programme will not only be fun, but instil lessons in the children that go beyond the usual scope, such as financial responsibility and compassion.
Organised by JCI Kinta, with the support of the Perak state, and co-hosted by WakeUp and Wanita Perak, KidStart’s organisers expressed their thanks to their Diamond Sponsor, Zantat and Venue Sponsor, Seri Botani International School.
As well as their event supporting partners such as UTAR, E21 Academy, Ready Care and CL Dance Academy.
For more information, such as to register your children to become a vendor or to help sponsor this event, kindly contact the organising chairman Irwin Ho at 012-5613188, local president Stephanie Hew at 012-5052926 or the ticketing directors Owen Lim at 012-5160172 or Oscar Teng at 019-9818409.
