Who says big ideas are only for grown-ups? At Morris Vanterpool Primary School’s Kidpreneur Fair on 25th April 2025, tiny business men and women proved that ambition knows no age limit — and that a bright future for Anguilla is already being stitched together by its youngest dreamers.
The sun-drenched courtyard outside the school auditorium buzzed with anticipation as teachers, parents, students from neighbouring schools and distinguished guests, including Chief Education Officer Mr. Bren Romney and the Hon. Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge, gathered for this special event.
The festivities kicked off with an energetic welcome from young participant Dan Castang, who painted a vivid picture of the two months of preparation behind the fair — a whirlwind of brainstorming, budgeting, marketing, and good old-fashioned hard work. “It wasn’t always easy,” he confessed. “There were times we had to figure out problems like how to make our product better or how to price things fairly. But today, we get to share our passions and our businesses with you. Even young children can have big ideas and make them happen.”
And after the ribbon was cut – thus officially opening the Kidpreneur Fair – everyone got to see the ideas these young minds had cooked up.
Under a sea of colourful booths, the young moguls showcased a dazzling variety of products including homemade cookies, lemonade and slime, pizza slices worthy of a chef’s kiss, intricate keychains, stunning art pieces, and irresistible cupcakes and sweets, all lovingly crafted with a little help from the adults cheering them on behind the scenes.
The booths themselves were a sight to behold — vibrant, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed to draw the crowds. Young vendors enthusiastically pitched their products, charming adults and fellow students alike into becoming loyal customers. Some children sold out within 30 minutes, learning first-hand the entrepreneurial golden rule: supply must meet demand!
There were even inventive services on offer. A budding beautician offered manicures and pedicures, an artist personalised patrons’ names with flair and flourish, and a young chef wowed tastebuds with a specially made sauce perfect for chicken lovers.
The spirit of innovation and hustle was palpable and contagious. Students from other schools were overheard wishing that they too could host fairs like this, a wish the organisers are keen to grant as the initiative expands in the future.
Liberty Credit Union’s founder and general manager, Vanessa Connor, spoke warmly about Liberty’s commitment to youth empowerment through programmes like My First Nest Egg, which had helped prepare the children for their big debut. “This is what we are about,” she said passionately. “Empowering children because they are the future of our nation.” Janelle Anthony of the Department of Youth and Culture echoed these sentiments, praising the student council’s “outstanding execution” and “attention to detail” in creating a “celebration of young talent, innovation, and potential.”
Dr. Aiden Harrigan of the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla (NCBA) took the occasion to reflect on NCBA’s ninth anniversary and reaffirm the bank’s commitment to the future. NCBA donated EC $2,700 to the Morris Vanterpool Primary School’s Kidpreneur Fair, garnering a resounding applause. Dr. Harrigan continued, “This donation is an investment in potential, in innovation, and in a future where today’s young thinkers become tomorrow’s leaders and business owners.” NCBA also gifted each participating student a goodie bag with an EC $100 cheque and a US $30 start-up float to fuel their budding businesses.
Meanwhile, what truly set the fair apart was not just the ingenuity of the products, but the genuine passion behind each table. One young entrepreneur chose to sell cookies out of a love for baking; another decided on pizza simply because of his endless love for the dish. In every sale, in every pitch, there was pride — not just in the product, but in the journey.
It is clear that these kidpreneurs are not just selling lemonade and keychains — they are selling a vision of an Anguilla where creativity, resilience, and enterprise bloom from the earliest ages. As Janelle Anthony so perfectly put it, the seeds planted today will grow far beyond today.
