When school is out for the summer, young people often find themselves looking for something to do with their free time! Twins Michael and Oisin McGloin (13) from Bundoran, Co. Donegal decided that if they wanted to have money and something to do during the holidays, they would have to be creative and motivated. Their involvement in the Foróige NFTE programme (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) in 2012 spurred them to use their skills and knowledge to develop their very own business.
Beat the Parking Charges founded by Michael and Oisin involves approaching businesses to advertise on a flyer that has been designed and delivered on their behalf. The businesses then provide discounts to the customers who bring the leaflet when they make their purchase. This helps local customers to get value for money during recession times.
The boys now have the involvement of 16 local businesses who have paid to advertise on the flier. The initiative has been a huge success with fantastic feedback from the locals:
“It’s so great to see young teenagers create and develop their own business and this is generating business into the community.”
“I am so delighted to advertise with the boys as I have already made back what I invested!”
“This is fantastic to see young people being so creative and doing something so worthwhile in their community.”
Michael and Oisin thank the Foróige NFTE programme for giving them the foundation they needed to create and design their own company. It also helped them develop the confidence they needed to believe that they could make it work if they put their mind to it. The boys are very modest in their success to date and they say that working together has been fun. Any challenges they have faced along the way have been easily solved through a good challenge of Rock, Paper, Scissors! They are now hoping to expand their business even further.
Caroline Cooke, Project Worker at Foróige's Bundoran Neighbourhood Youth Project says, “The sky is the limit for these motivated, inspiring, young people. It just goes to show that a little hard work and initiative go a long way, no matter what age you are!”