BROWN'S TOWN, St Ann:

The eleventh-grade students at Brown's Town High School, who earlier this year won an Organisation of American States-sponsored Caribbean science competition with a molluscide they developed, were among the over 130 school leavers who turned out at the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel recently to seek assistance from the Young Entrepreneurs Programme (YEP).

Seventeen-year-old former Westwood student, Godiva Golding, has joined with the young scientists to form what they hope will be a successful combination to tap into the market.

"The inventor of the product is seeking to expand on it, so we're seeking to go into a group-business venture where we manufacture and market this pesticide, so we thought we would start here," Golding told The Gleaner.

According to Golding, there is market for their product.

"There is a market. Currently, we import approximately 10,000kg of molluscide, valued approximately US$100,000, so if we are able to tap into that market we wouldn't need those imports."

The development of the molluscide was one of several ideas that the young entrepreneurs-to-be brought with them to the venue.

Among the ideas were apiculture, fashion designing, cellphone and computer repairs, entertainment services and automotive services.

Vaughn Ruddock, 17, who attended Marcus Garvey Technical, wants to offer unlocking and repair service for cellphones and repairs to computers, an area in which he says he has experience.

"I chose this field because I really like it," he said.

Entertainment

For Adrienne Scarlett, who majored in food in college and has experience in entertainment field, her business already has a name and is just waiting to be funded.

"It's called Yaso Links and it will be a complete entertainment package, not just food, not just marketing but the whole package. I'm also interested in fashion, so I'm going to mix all three and have all three to have a complete location."

Several of the students who spoke with The Gleaner listed agriculture-related fields as second choices. For Dwayne Dawkins, however, it was definitely the first choice.

My business plan is basically to open an apiculture farm. I was involved in 4-H Clubs, and so basically I got the understanding and experience with apiculture, so basically got a love for it. For me now, basically, is to have a business in apiculture."

Former Ocho Rios High student 17-year-old Sherianne Mesquita is a budding fashion designer and she wants to develop a business in that field.

"I want to do a variety of things starting with fashion designing," Mesquita said. "I'm also looking into manufacturing furniture and livestock is something to think about at present, probably one of the best things to go into. However, I have a passion for fashion so that would have to be my first choice."

Inspired by a dream

For Marshon Johnson, from Brown's Town High, his mind is set on an automotive centre to be located in Discovery Bay, a decision inspired by a dream.

"I got a dream that this lady came to me and asked if I know any place that has a Honda trunk and I said no there's no place in St Ann and she would have to check outside the parish, so I got the idea."

His business is proposed to offer complete motor-vehicle service and a comfortable lounge for customers to relax while their vehicle is being worked on.