Best of the Best
An idea unfolds….
Kopeyia, Ghana
MiniMini-Store Business Education Project
Due to lack of educational funding
opportunities and business savvy, the JSS
Business Education and Scholarship
Program was developed in July 2005
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Initial steps
Meetings with young graduates
Meetings with Headmaster
Meetings with chair of the school board
and PTA president
Approval of school board and PTA
Project development planning
Site selection
Funding raised
Procurement of main contractor and
materials
12’-0”
Walk-thru Door
Vending Window
2’-0”
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8’-0”
1’-0”
3’-0”
2’-0”
16’-0”
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An open area along the road
On school grounds
Mini-Store Front View
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Libation Pouring Ceremony
August 4, 2005
Early Challenges
Inflation
African work ethic
Transportation costs
Realistic contractors
U.S. funding seen as something to exploit
Funding needs
Skepticism
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The early structure
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Students cleaning the grounds
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Plastering the sides
Ben the Mason
Gabriel helping
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Pee finishing the roof
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March 2006
Pee installing
doors
Chris Schrage and Melinda Hamerlinck
Training of staff and students
Initial textbook draft reviewed
Building painted
Meetings
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Business for Beginners
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March 13
Initial Draft
March 2006
Students from the International Club of Business Students wrote specific
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topic chapters for the training manual for students.
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The painting begins
First coat on the woodwork
Odartey
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Progress
Paint work continues
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Service Counter
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Customer Service Training
Melinda used her expertise in retail to
provide one training leading the students
in the appropriate methods for taking
care of customers.
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Shelving installation
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Melinda, Savior, Philip, Akpene,
Akpene, Rebecca, Clemence,
Clemence, Josephine
Chris, Mathew, Albert, Victoria, Mama, Charles
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Initiatives after March visit
July 2006
Revised draft of Business for Beginners
Funds to fully stock inventory
Supplement developed and distributed in country
Currently $1900 in construction and initial inventory
Electrical service with ceiling fan installed
Field trip to Distributors for purchases
Inventory calculations and records developed
Pricing strategy developed
Inventory items organized on shelves
Began operations
Added refrigerator/freezer
Scholarship savings account established
Electrical service installation
More shelving
Revise / expand Business for Beginners
More training
Set up scholarship fund criteria
Evaluate
Propose program to other school districts
¢200,000 initial amount
Resolution developed and signed for bank
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Store as of July 15, 2006
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Electrical wiring
Shelving, bench, stools and painting completed between March and July visit.
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Inventory decisiondecision-making and
field trip to distributors
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Minor improvements
A field trip to product distributors
provided hands-on experience for
determining appropriate products and
order quantities.
Road side sign during hours of operation
Cash drawer with dividers
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Opening Ceremony
Preparing for Store opening
Dedication included traditional prayers and libation pouring led by
Kokuga Tengey (gentleman who donated the ground)
Assisted by Agusten Agbenorxevi (village elder)
Kwamegah Bedi (Traditional Priest)
Charles Kwashie (in-country instructor)
Christian prayer offered by Joseph Butame
Kwamegah Bedi cuts the
ribbon for the official
opening
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Date
Inventory
Purchased
(items for resale)
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
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27
28
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Operations BeginBegin- July 22,2006
Monthly
Report
Form
July 2006
One male and one female student will staff the store on a rotation basis.
NO Sunday operations. During vacations, mini-store open all day.
Evaluating the feasibility of paying a staff person during school hours.
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Initial sales volumes prohibits that option.
(for business
operations)
Total Sales
5% to
Scholarship
Account
5,000
852,500
41,000
213,500
40,500
1,630,000
38,000
525,600
677,000
3,941,600
The future
Supplies
Purchased
90,000
35,000
20,000
25,000
92,000
76,000
419,500
10,000
15,800
9,300
54,900
109,900
89,750
119,750
42,750
35,900
83,400
112,400
105,200
80,800
869,850
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
500
790
465
2,745
5,495
4,488
0
5,988
2,138
1,795
4,170
5,620
5,260
0
4,040
43,493
Initials
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Cash left
in drawer
Cash
removed
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
84,800
130,000
CRS
105,550
100,000
CRS
88,950
CRS
75,750
CRS
81,300
70,500
CRS
78,900
116,000
CRS
64,250
120,000
60,000
60,000
115,500
40,000
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696,500
Observations
Evaluation of development and training
process
Assessment of overall program
Positive Impacts
Excellent teaching tool
Business concepts
Math applications
Problem solving
Scholarship allotment (currently 5% of sales)
Potential to compensate instructors
Evaluation of appropriate store hours and staffing
Asset to community
Product availability
Audit of operations
Final edition of training manual completed and
printed
Process documented for future minimini-store
development in other villages
Source of pride
School
community
Challenges
Sales volume may be
inadequate for
scholarship needs
Having enough funds
Construction
Initial inventory
StartStart-up costs
Skilled and devoted inincountry instructor
May require training
May not receive any
monetary reward initially
Time constraints
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