If there was ever a sight to make your heart swell with pride – and possibly even tug at your taste buds – it was the sun drenched courtyard of the Orealia Kelly Primary School (OKPS) on Wednesday, 25th?June?2025. Excitement hung in the air like the scent of freshly spun cotton candy, vibrant stalls blossomed like island flowers, and little entrepreneurs bustled with energy. This much anticipated Kidpreneur Fair – the dream come true sequel to Morris Vanterpool Primary’s April launch – was every bit as magical as the buzz had promised.
Morris Vanterpool’s kid led fair earlier in April saw tiny moguls peddling their creations, and the ripple effect couldn’t be ignored. OKPS students who were present at that time whispered among themselves about wanting a replica at their school. And so, with memorable lessons behind them, the children of Orealia Kelly proudly stepped forward, taking centre stage.
By 10?am, the school was alive with familiar faces: parents, teachers, neighbours, curious students from nearby schools, and a silver lining of distinguished guests. Chief Education Officer Mr.?Bren?Romney, the Hon. Minister of Education Mrs.?Shellya?Rogers Webster, Hon. Ministerial Assistant Mr.?Jeison?Bryan, and Hon. Parliamentary Secretary Mr.?Cordell?Richardson all gathered in solidarity, eagerly awaiting the curtain raiser.
Student Council President Delicia?Garraway officially welcomed guests: “Today marks the beginning of something exciting. This event is not about selling or making a profit. It is about learning important life skills. Let’s make this Kidpreneur Fair a fun, successful, and unforgettable one, the first of many more to come for us.”
Her words rang true and set the tone for a fair brimming with creativity, learning, and community spirit.
Under a sea of colourful booths, these young moguls offered a dazzling array of items: homemade cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls and frozen treats; cotton candy fresh from the spinner; handmade jewelry, keychains, bows, hair accessories; and classic delights – tamarind jam, sorrel, cane sugar, fresh juices and that nostalgic pink lemonade in see through pouches. Adults strolling by couldn’t help but smile – after all, it was a stroll down their own childhood memories.
Minister Rogers Webster praised the innovation on display and highlighted the important take-away lessons the students should remember:
“The lessons that you will learn at this level about entrepreneurship, hard work, patience, dedication – they’re invaluable. They are lessons that many people learn late in life, unfortunately. So, I want you to take it on board whether you are an entrepreneur or you are a customer.”
Chief Education Officer Bren?Romney added his congratulations, applauding the school’s “culture that nurtures possibility” and the students’ “creativity and innovation,” which he described as “always a great thing when we provide avenues for them to express themselves.”
Acting Principal Mrs.?Shirlene?Hodge cut the ribbon with a flourish, calling it “a celebration of big dreams in small packages,” sending official signal that the fair was now open – and unstoppable.
None of this happened by accident. Prior to Fair Day, on 13th June 2025, the students enjoyed a workshop from the Anguilla Youth Business Foundation (AYBF), covering leadership, product development, branding, business planning and marketing.
AYBF coordinator Waynika?Romney reminded everyone: “Every great business starts with a simple idea. As you wander through the Fair, take the time to explore. When you do an exchange, that is called collaboration.”
She encouraged students to support each other and earnestly urged adults to back their efforts with purchases—and encouragement.
The students certainly put their lessons into practice as they invited customers to sample and buy their products. Some independently sold while others were assisted by their parents. Many of the young entrepreneurs also took the time to visit their peers’ booths, patronizing them along the way to support.
Parents, teachers and even visiting pupils from other schools agreed that this wasn’t just a one off thing. Just like before, several students whispered wishes that their schools could host something similar.
Echoing across the stalls were sentiments like: “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.”
And writers of the future might recall that this initiative didn’t just teach them to sell – it convinced them they could steer their own ship, be their own boss, and perhaps, one day, employ others. Here, they were being shown they can create something of their own; and through this, help Anguilla flourish from the inside out.
With two successful Kidpreneur Fairs now in the books, even more are potentially on the horizon for the remaining primary schools. And if the energy at OKPS is anything to go by, the future of enterprise on our shores looks as bright – and delicious – as a pouch of pink lemonade on a hot summer morning.
