Chamber Service: Education

School Name: Young Chamber

Title: The Young Chamber Colombian Fruit Challenge

Date: March 2010

Teams of students from across the two counties took part in the challenge to design the Best Social Enterprise Drink containing an exotic fruit from Colombia mixed with apple juice, pear juice, elderflower cordial, Worcester Sauce or other ingredients produced in or sourced from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The competition, launched in Fair Trade Fortnight last year, challenged students to introduce exotic new flavours to the British palate, blended with locally grown ingredients. The challenge was  overseen by Fruto del Espiritu who also supplied the fruit. Fruto del Espiritu is a social enterprise whose Schools Programme was designed in response to the Colombian Government’s Shared Responsibility campaign.

Each school presented and demonstrated their best drinks and were judged by a panel of local professionals and experts. Through the University of Worcester’s STEMNET service, providing brokerage services to schools for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Enhancement & Enrichment, the participating students were awarded the British Science Association’s CREST Award. The competition culminated in a final showcase event at Three Counties Show where the teams presented and served their best healthy drinks and non-alcoholic cocktails.

The Challenge saw Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s Young Chamber programme working alongside Chamber members; the Three Counties Agricultural Society, King Charles I School and Worcester University to enhance the learning and enterprise opportunities available to students across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.