NINE competing high schools of the Youth in Business – Dream Big Challenge 2010 will present their business plans to the judges on Monday the 24th of May.

From 16:00 to 18:00, each school's team of 4 students will have 10 minutes to defend their business plan in front of 5 judges. The presentations will be recorded and broadcast on TV Tonga from 20:30 to 21:00 during the 3 following days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

The nine competing schools are (in alphabetical order): Apifo'ou College, Beulah College, Liahona High School, Ocean of Light International School, Queen Salote College, Tailulu College, Tonga College 'Atele, Tonga High School, and Tupou High School.

The 5 judges are Manu 'Akau'ola (President of the Commerce Teachers' Association), Arthur Hubbard (Chair of the Bankers Association), Robina Nakao (Nominated by the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc), Paul Taumoepeau (President of TCCI), and 'Aisake Vaisima (nominated by the Secondary Schools Principals Association).

The nine teams have worked on their business plans under the guidance of their commerce teachers and mentors from the local business community.

The quality of their documents and their creativity will make it difficult for the judges to rank them. However at the end, only the 4 best teams will be awarded an initial capital to continue.

The first team will receive $3,000, the second $2,000, the third $1,500 and the fourth $1,000.

These initial capitals will be awarded during a ceremony that will take place on Monday the 31st of May (time and venue to be confirmed).

The 4 winning young teams will then set up their businesses, manufacture their products and start selling them to the public.

The competition in organised by the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc, in partnership with the Secondary Schools principals Association and the Ministry of Education.

Youth in Business – Dream Big Challenge 2010 is proudly sponsored by the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc, the New Zealand High Commission, E.M. Jones Group, Pacific Finance and Investments Group, TCC, Western Union – Fexco, Café Escape and Fed Ex. Tongan Chamber of Commerce, 13/05/10.