Ballymoney High School, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Ballymoney High School in Northern Island have been involved with Achievers International for over 7 years and have had a number of good  partnerships.  They run Achievers as an extra curricular activity, and have a thriving business that is partnered with Berufliche Schule Hangelsberg in Germany.  Having been partners for several years they have taken part in a number of joint events and formed strong friendships between the students and staff.

The students work on their business plan at the European Business Campus

They were extremely busy during the 2008-09 programme year.  In November they took 10 students to a European Business campus at FEZ Berlin. This was their second time in attendance and was a profitable event that boosted the self-confidence of those who attended.  The theme was Corporate Social Awareness and upon returning the students applied it to their business practices.  They also took the opportunity to offer 'free delivery' of products to their partners and filled their suitcases with various items from biscuits to Blu-tack.

At Christmas they imported a large supply of Halloren chocolates which sold well.  They also boosted their funds by selling glow-sticks at the annual school disco.  After Christmas they began work on a joint project with their German partners with the aim of co-designing a website to highlight the activities of both school companies.  The site will be bi-lingual and the hope is that it will help with communications between the students.

The first exchange visit took place at the end of February when their partners visited them  in Ballymoney.  The trip helped to kick-start work on the project and the return visit at the end of June allowed the groups to complete their work on the website ready for launch.

Following the business campus in Berlin an opportunity arose for the students to put the theory of Corporate Social Responsibility into practice.  They became aware of a local charity that helps people in Uganda by providing them with the means to become self-sufficient and were put in touch with a school that wanted to teach their students by organising craft workshops.

Ballymoney agreed to provide start-up capital of around £195 for a small group who will be making leather bracelets.  The money will cover the cost of a table and four chairs as well as all the necessary materials and tools.  In addition they will now be able to afford a tutor who will come to the school and teach them how to make the bracelets. Once finished, the bracelets will be sent to Ballymoney who will market them, assisted by their German partners who are also going to be part of the project.