The children of Kilcolgan Educate Together National School have come up with a way to make Christmas more magical this year — by inventing magic reindeer food.
The food which is produced and sold by children in the school’s senior classes, offers the ultimate treat for Santa’s hard-working reindeer on Christmas Eve.
With help from a start-up business coach the children, who are aged nine to 12, have been learning all the skills of entrepreneurship, from idea generation, marketing, and selling skills to bookkeeping — and the lessons have gone down a treat with the pupils.
Fifth class student Isabella said “oats, birdseed and sugar would probably be a few of the things that I wouldn't plan ón using to start a mini business. At first I thought ‘this wouldn't work’.
“But when I saw how well the first batch had done I thought ‘Wow, this might just work’ and after all the hard work we put in to make this product, I think the magic ingredients are hard work, belief and love.”
Hannah Lund, fourth class student said that ‘“Hard work and being determined are really the secret ingredients.”
“Having faith in yourself and the others around you is really what a business is all about.”
Spotting a gap in the market for more choice in foodstuff for Santa's reindeer, the class submitted a business plan to the school’s board of management to apply for a loan to cover the start-up costs.
With funding in place, production began and magic reindeer food has been flying off the shelves in Galway ever since.
The food is a great way to show your appreciation for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve. Simply sprinkle a bag of food on the lawn — the brightly coloured crystals help the reindeer to find your house, and the food also gives them a tasty snack to enjoy while Santa leaves the presents indoors.
The pupils have been making a tidy profit on the venture, and they expect to be busy keeping up with demand until late on Christmas Eve.
Magic reindeer food is available form TK Maxx, City Limits, Londis Kilcolgan, and other local outlets. All proceeds from the venture will go towards the school.
It will also be on sale at the Kilcolgan Educate Together Christmas Fair will will be held in the school from 11pm to 2pm on Sunday next, December 18.
