Yarrabilba students help with car wash
A group of school students is helping to tackle youth issues setting up their own car washing business.
Logan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Logan. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A group of teens have set up their own car washing business.
KINGSTON UNIT UNDER POLICE GUARD
Yarrabilba State Secondary College’s Allista Bailey, Jack Brownbill and Tyson McGrath decided to turn a school assignment into a lifesaving project and set up the school-based business.
The college challenged year 8 students to create a sustainable business which helps to solve a problem in the local community.
The young entrepreneurs decided to tackle part of it giving young people something productive to do with their time.
The trio runs their business in the school carpark after classes washing teachers’ cars for cash.
They aim to employ their friends who might otherwise be hanging out at the park.
For those they can’t reach directly through youth employment, Yarra Youngins will donate $1 per car washed to Teen Challenge Brisbane, an organisation that helps young people battling addiction.
To be sustainable, the teens have chosen environmentally friendly car wash products, and wash cars on the grass so that the run off is absorbed into the ground, negating the need for sprinklers.
To scale up their business model and increase their social impact, the Yarra Youngins plan to create a franchise model and sell it on to other schools.
So far, the teens have engaged local solicitor Carolyn Ryder on a pro bono basis to create a waiver, arranged a meeting with Logan City Chamber of Commerce president Stewart Fleming to secure funding, arranged unpaid work experience to sharpen their skills, and organised a pilot car wash to tighten up logistics before their official launch.
“It feels good to be at the office for business meetings, instead of for the wrong reasons”, said Jack.
“Two months ago, I was always getting in trouble at school with my friends. Now we have the real life skills to start our own business and make money, and we can make a positive change in our community.
“It is so good to learn stuff that matters at school.”
Already, the Yarra Youngins have been approached by their peers looking for jobs.
Future Anything: Activate is run as a national competition for all schools participating, and Yarra Youngins won the regional semi-finals on October 13.
National semi-finals are held via Zoom on November 4 and the Grand Finals after that, with cash prizes and mentorship opportunities for the winners.
Regardless of the future outcome of the competition, the Yarra Youngins have already established themselves as community leaders and entrepreneurs.