Nalukai Academy on Teaching and Learning Entrepreneurship
Aug 23, 2023
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Aaron Schorn, Nalukai program director, and high school student Sherry Jiang discuss creating a valuable learning experience in entrepreneurship, addressing food deserts, and the shift in Nalukai Academy's focus to entrepreneurship through the lens of Hawaiian culture. They also delve into addressing women's healthcare needs, the impact of participating in the Nalukai Academy, and the potential for other schools to implement similar programs.
The Nalukai Academy Startup Camp focuses on problem finding, encouraging students to fall in love with the problems they seek to solve and connect their life experiences to the solutions they create.
Nalukai Academy Startup Camp empowers young women by fostering an inclusive environment for them to address meaningful issues, utilize their unique perspectives, and recognize their potential as problem solvers and change-makers.
Deep dives
Nalakai Academy Startup Camp: Empowering Future Entrepreneurs
Nalakai Academy Startup Camp is a 10-day intensive boarding program that focuses on developing entrepreneurial skills among high school students. The camp brings together 28 diverse students from public, private, and charter schools to work in teams and solve problems in their local communities. The program not only emphasizes technological entrepreneurship but also integrates Hawaiian culture, encouraging students to connect their life experiences to problem-solving. By fostering a sense of belonging, storytelling, and identity development, the camp aims to shift learning from passive to active, instilling confidence in students as entrepreneurs and learners.
The Importance of Problem Finding and Solution Testing
One of the key aspects of Nalakai Academy Startup Camp is the focus on problem finding. Students spend time in the problem space, falling in love with the problems they seek to solve before transitioning to solutions. Through assumption testing and deep research, they learn the value of staying in the problem space longer and connecting their life experiences to the solutions they create. This process cultivates empathy, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the problems they tackle. Additionally, the camp encourages students to test their assumptions, challenge traditional thinking, and build ventures that deliver impact to their communities.
Empowering Young Women to Make a Difference
Nalakai Academy Startup Camp provides a platform for young women to address meaningful issues and make a difference. The camp fosters an environment that encourages female teams to tackle problems that are relevant to them and their communities. This inclusivity promotes the voices and experiences of young women, empowering them to utilize their unique perspectives and strengths to develop innovative solutions. By connecting their shared experiences to entrepreneurship, the camp helps young women recognize their potential as problem solvers and change-makers. The impact of the camp goes beyond the 10-day experience, as students are inspired to continue their projects even after the camp ends, making a lasting impact in their communities.
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On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Tom Vander Ark is joined by Nalukai program director Aaron Schorn and a high school student Sherry Jiang from Kealakehe high school.
The Nalukai Academy Startup Camp is a ten-day intensive entrepreneurship, technology, and design camp for high school students The camp covers a multitude of different subject areas with real-world applications, such as management, digital storytelling, design thinking, and large-scale digital projects. Campers at Nalukai are driven, clever, and innovative.
Nalukai focuses:
Digital storytelling – branding & marketing, content creation, web design
Leadership – project management, collaboration, team dynamics
Entrepreneurship – networking, investor pitches, business plan development