East Hamilton's Future Business Leaders of America organization tries to prepare kids for the business world they will encounter in the future. They do this through competitive events at the local, state, and national levels. These events vary and range from creating a proper business plan to giving technical support to customers.
One of these competitive events is called "Partnership with Business Project." It requires a small group of students to find a business or organization, convince that organization to partner with the local FBLA chapter, and have each party work to help the other. The event requires members of FBLA outside of the main small group to participate.
East Hamilton students Ayman Handal and Walter Siv decided to take on this competitive event. They partnered with Kids for a Clean Planet, an organization whose goal is to inspire children to work together and keep the Earth clean. After several meetings and conversations over e-mails and text messages, they were able to decide on a goal for the partnership. FBLA would help set up an event for Kids for a Clean Planet and call it the "EcoFest." After spreading the word, FBLA told its members to come to the EcoFest to help set up and supervise the event.
East Hamilton offered to host the event at their school in order to help develop planning and organization skills. Kids for a Clean Planet Director Jody Conn allowed the students full reign of the project, acting as an adviser and supervisor. The event was held on March 14.
Mr. Siv and Mr. Handal included music, creative writing, art, and recycled craft activities at the event. Kids were able to express themselves through writing or art, work together to make music on drums, and reuse old papers to make whatever they desired.