A section of Sahara Mall was bustling with hectic business activity here Thursday as over 100 budding entrepreneurs displayed their products at booths that they had set up in TREP$ Marketplace. The students aged from eight to 12 years had been trained in after-school workshops organized by the Prince Salman Science Oasis (PSSO), a non-profit organization entrusted to develop the state-of-the-art science center that serves society in areas such as science and technology. As part of its social activities, the PSSO has organized TREP$ Marketplace in Riyadh on five previous occasions. TREP$ is an award-winning, American after-school entrepreneurship education program. After successfully training students, the PSSO arranged the marketplace event in cooperation with the private sector. The students studying in different Saudi and international community schools underwent six weekly workshops at the PSSO premises in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. Dr. Khaled Taher, Supervisor General, PSSO, said TREP$ Marketplace is aimed at training budding entrepreneurs to be self-dependent and successful in life. He said TREP$, true to its name, has provided parents with an opportunity to help their children become successful in life. “Under the program, the young students undergo training on how to do business,” he said. “This small step may inspire students and transform them into the leading businessmen of tomorrow like Bill Gates,” he said referring to the PSSO's entrepreneurship program that concentrates on the ingenuity and skills required for doing business. At the TREP$ Marketplace students learn to display their business talents and potential, Taher said. Soon after the completion of the workshop, students are free to participate in their first business experience by displaying their products at the well-organized event in shopping malls. The exposure that they receive at an early age will help them in the future when they have to make important real life decisions on higher studies or participate in job interviews, he said. “The effectiveness of the entrepreneurship program was evident from the way students actively participated in the TREP$ Marketplace. Besides, the program teaches students how to be productive future employees by educating them on the importance of work ethics and self-confidence,” Taher said. Abdullah Jafris, a student at the Sri Lankan International School, was given the TREP$ ‘best boy' award, while Razan Yamani of Al-Ghad School was judged to be the TREP$ ‘best girl'. Yamani was delighted to have sold most of the items that she had on display. “We will definitely enroll our daughter in future workshops to receive further training in business activities,” said Yamani's mother. “TREP$ Marketplace has been a wonderful experience for her.” Aseel Salem, a student at Al-Ghad School, was happily counting his money at the end of the bazaar. His parents thanked the PSSO and its team for conducting events that give schoolchildren the skills to be successful in their future careers. Other parents in the marketplace expressed their satisfaction with the way the business activities were conducted. Parents of Sadeem Al-Sayyed, Rana Al-Sadhan and Reema Bawazeer of Ambassadors (Asrary) School urged the PSSO to organize similar events that will help produce well-trained future entrepreneurs. “I was happy to see the crowd of customers buying things made by my child,” said Al-Sayyed's father. “I am excited and happy at the same time to see children acting like real businesspeople at the marketplace,” said the parents of Alina Khan and Sameera Yousuf, students of the New Middle East International School. The mother of Alnaya Ghada, a student at Al-Ghad School, thanked the PSSO authorities for initiating the TREP$ Marketplace aimed at producing budding entrepreneurs. “I am happy to have enrolled my daughter in the PSSO's workshop,” she said. The students who participated in the sixth TREP$ Marketplace were from schools, such as Al-Ghad School, Kingdom School, Najd School, Ambassadors (Asrary) School, Daar Al-Bara'ah School, Ibn Khaldoon School, Tarbiah Al-Islamiah School, Saudi School, School #19, New Middle East International School, Sri Lankan International School, Education International School, and United International School.
