ENTREPRENEURSHIP — Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Subject: Pre-technical | Subtopic: Introduction of entrepreneurship | Age: 12 (Kenya)

Simple words (Key terms)

• Entrepreneur — a person who starts a business.
• Enterprise — the business or activity.
• Goods — things you can touch and sell (e.g., sweets, mandazi, kiondo).
• Services — jobs you do for others (e.g., haircut, tutoring).
• Capital — money you need to start (e.g., KSh 200 to buy snacks).
• Profit — money left after paying costs.
• Customer — a person who buys from you.

Why entrepreneurship is important in Kenya 🇰🇪

• Creates jobs for young people and families (small stalls, kiosks, jua kali workshops).
• Helps people earn money to pay school fees and support their households.
• Uses local resources — for example, selling maize, vegetables, or making craft kiondos.
• Encourages creativity and solving problems in your community.

Traits of a young entrepreneur (you can learn these)

• Hardworking — you must put in effort every day.
• Honest — keep good relationships with customers and parents.
• Friendly — good service brings more customers.
• Organised — keep money and goods safely.
• Creative — think of new ideas like selling cold soda on a hot day.

Steps to start a small business (easy)

1. Choose what to sell or the service to offer (e.g., sweets, recharge cards, stationery, hair-braiding).
2. Find how much money (capital) you need.
3. Buy small stock or tools.
4. Set prices (cost + little extra = selling price).
5. Tell people (family, friends, classmates) about your business.
6. Keep records: list what you bought and what you sold.
7. Save some of your profit in a safe place (piggy bank or bank with a parent).

Example: A simple profit example

Safe and fair business rules

• Always ask your parent or guardian for permission before starting.
• Do not sell harmful items or disturb school lessons.
• Give correct change and be honest with customers.
• Wash hands and keep food clean if you sell snacks.

Small business ideas for 12-year-olds in Kenya

• Selling fruits, snacks or bottled water at school (with permission).
• Helping neighbours with shopping or fetching water for a small fee.
• Making and selling bead jewellery or kiondo decorations.
• Offering tutoring to younger pupils.
• Petty tailoring or mending clothes.
• Collecting and selling recyclable plastics to a buy-back centre.

Mini business plan — fill this out

Class activity / Homework ✍️

1. Draw your shop or stall on a paper. Label three things you will sell.
2. Write a short plan using the mini business plan above (with help from a parent).
3. Try a small safe activity for one week (like selling 5 sweets) and record what you earn.