On Friday, 9 April, a ceremony presenting awards to the winners of the “Young Entrepreneur” competition was held in the conference room of the District Office in Bolesławiec. The competition was organized by Bolesławieckie Towarzystwo Gospodarcze, Powiat Bolesławiecki and Księgarnia Agora. The competition, addressed to students of upper-secondary schools, aims to expand knowledge of the basics of entrepreneurship, develop motivation to improve skills, and foster entrepreneurial attitudes and thinking.
The gala was hosted by Józefa Witas and Mirosław Sakowski. Karol Stasik, head of BTG, addressed the audience. “Why do local governments care so much about economic development and promoting entrepreneurship? The development of entrepreneurship means more jobs and greater prosperity for society,” he said. “Some people see entrepreneurs as bloodsuckers, heartless people, or even thieves. We want to change that.
“Our district is unique because it has three economic zones,” emphasized the district governor, Cezary Przybylski. “The task of every local government is to create conditions for the development of entrepreneurship, and that is what we are trying to do.
Thirty-nine entries were submitted for the competition. The business plans were assessed by a jury consisting of Andrzej Udzielak, Józefa i Marek Witasowie, Dariusz Kwaśniewski, Piotr Tutak and Mirosław Sakowski. The competition was won by Aleksandra Ptak, a student at the School Complex of Commerce and Services. The winner is considering establishing the “Ptaszyna” agritourism farm in Ławszowa. “This commune has plenty of tourist attractions. I still want to live there. This is my plan for life,” Aleksandra emphasizes. “Ola’s work was well thought out from beginning to end,” says Agnieszka Koplin, a teacher at ZSHiU. “I am pleased that students from our school have been achieving top places for many years, and not only in competitions organized by BTG.
Second place went to Karina Jasińska from II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec, with the “Rzepka” biofuel company. Third prize was awarded to Ewelina Jarosz from the School Complex of General and Vocational Education in Bolesławiec, with the “Piękno to Ty” salon. Fourth place went to Kamil Winnicki from the General Secondary School in Zgorzelec, with a company involved in selective waste collection. The fifth prize was won by Paulina Koziarz from ZSOiZ, with the “Pupil” service business.
The winners and their supervisors received prizes worth a total of PLN 2,500 (1st place: PLN 1,000; 2nd place: PLN 700; 3rd place: PLN 400; 4th place: PLN 250; 5th place: PLN 150). In addition, Aleksandra Ptak received a statuette funded by Zakłady Ceramiczne “Bolesławiec”. The statuette was created by visual artist Janina Bany-Kozłowska.
“Competitions of this kind are needed,” says Józefa Witas. “All the entries underestimated their costs. We were able to draw these young people’s attention to gaps in their business plans and make them aware of the harsh realities of the economy. To make them realize that when running a business, one must think about every detail, even the smallest one. An entrepreneur who wants to succeed in the market cannot make such mistakes.
The gala was enhanced by performances by the Canon dance group from Bolesławiecki Ośrodek Kultury, students and graduates of the State Music School of First and Second Degree (Kingi Biesiadeckiej, Krzysztofa Kozickiego, Agaty Gąsieniec and Kamili Chrobot) and Joanny Stec, a participant in the vocal studio at the Youth Cultural Centre. IstotneInformacje.pl was the event’s media patron.
(information ii)
