LAB 5 A truly “ Awesome ’’ experience
Lab5 was an “awesome experience’’ for Year 10 student Jack Drage who, along with the other members of his group, was buzzing with excitement after they pitched the idea they had been working on all week to friends and family.
The challenge during the first five-day workshop with the Ministry of Awesome team had been to produce a solution to a global challenge. The five different groups came up with plans to deal with obesity, encourage more young people into sport, produce warm waterproof jackets for the homeless, get people comfortable about using gyms and producing sugar-free drinks to be sold in cafes. The Ministry of Awesome is a Christchurch company set up to support early-stage entrepreneurs with ideas for projects, events, start-ups, social enterprises and, more importantly, to turn these ideas into reality. During the week, the 15 boys were “immersed and inspired’’ as they learned more about entrepreneurship and discovered it was not just about coming up with ideas, but about making things happen. They met with mentors, learned how to make a presentation to pitch their ideas, understood the importance of getting help to support their plan
suddenly everyone wanted to talk,’’ says Jack. He was part of the group looking at producing and marketing a sugar- free drink to cafes and is keen to continue with their plan. “I will let the idea rest for a bit, then look at the contacts we have made who can help make it happen,’’ he says. “What the experience has done is to open my eyes and show me I really can do it, that it isn’t just an idea that won’t go anywhere. “My overall impression of Lab5 is ‘wow, what an experience.’ Now it’s up to me to follow it up.’’ Director of The Centre for Character & Leadership Darrell Thatcher says the programme seeks to challenge student thinking. “It’s about giving our students hands-on work and life experience and using their skills for social good. We want the boys to become social entrepreneurs in their futures, thinking of how to help others, whether in big or small ways.
Jack says it was one of the best learning experiences he has had. “In the mornings, we had people coming to talk to us about the practicality of turning an idea into a reality. Then we sat around the table talking about our ideas, getting things down on our laptops. We each had a task to do and were learning so much, but it didn’t seem like learning, it was more like fitting together the pieces in a game. “We were given so many resources and the Lab5 team’s networking meant we had access to people who could offer us advice for the development of our product. They were able to tailor the mentor to the idea, so our mentors were really helpful and relevant.’’ But it was not just about coming up with a way to make an idea happen. The boys also learned the importance of pitching their idea and of being convincing in their communications. “For the first few days, no one wanted to pitch or talk to other groups about their ideas, but as we worked on what we wanted to say,
and developed confidence in communicating their ideas.
“What the experience has done is to openmy eyes and showme I really can do it, that it isn’t just an idea that won’t go anywhere.” Jack Drage
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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