As part of the celebrations for volunteering month, five AIG Volunteers – Nigel Deane, Alistair Weir, Conor McGrath, Judith Fearon, Woranut Sheila Pinket – visited students in St. Mary’s National School Fairview for a 90-minute workshop and worked on an enterprise idea to be pitched to potential investors in a ”Dragon’s Den” format two days later in the AIG office.
The five teams came up with a Best Friend Robot, a Temperature Box, a BBQ and Picnic Rental Service and a GAA Sports wear business idea.
When the students arrived in the office they spent an hour finalising their presentations and pitches with the help of their mentors, strengthened by some delicious doughnuts.
The AIG volunteers worked brilliantly with the students to make sure everyone partook and was involved on the day. Nigel came prepared with Ukrainian translations of ’Welcome to AIG Office’ and ’Can you draw the flag of Ukraine on the poster please’ for the newly arrived students.
The various business ideas were presented to the AIG Dragons : John Clear, Aidan Connaughton, Henry Dobbin, and Stephen Reilly – who asked some probing questions which the students answered very well! After some negotiation and deals, each group went away with an investment from the dragon’s, clearing out their bank accounts!
Each team and the class were presented with a special bespoke glass award along with an AIG backpack full of goodies.
This is the eighth year AIG has granted funds to support Junior Achievement programs, as well as recruited and trained employee volunteers to share their skills and expertise with students, helping them gain entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness skills.
Special thanks goes to Rithika Satheesh and Judith Fearon from AIG for organising this event with us.
