10-year-old CEO gives back to two charities

Having observed the work of Give Back Jamaica and the Friends of Porus Association, two charities assisting the island’s less fortunate, 10-year-old entrepreneur Amiah Rae Chang decided to contribute to their efforts.

Originally from Manchester but now living in Anegada in the British Virgin Islands, Chang is founder and chief executive officer of Amiah’s Lemonade Stand. From her profits she recently donated US$250.

“I decided to donate to Give Back Jamaica and Friends of Porus Association because they both work together and both are eligible charity groups, who do what they say they would do. I give back because my mother always told me about how tough it was when my father died. But she got help and I think it’s very good to be of help to others. So, I understand the benefits of giving back,” she explained.

Chang moved to the Virgin Islands at the age of one, shortly after her father’s death. She credits her mother with instilling values that continue to shape her outlook.

“My mother taught me and is still teaching me about self-values, respecting others, and humility. My mother also instilled in me the importance of helping others in various ways and sharing whatever I can with those who are in need of assistance. She always stresses the fact that life is a cycle and always to remember where I’m coming from,” she said.

She launched her lemonade stand at the age of seven, an enterprise that has taught her responsibility and customer service. “The biggest advantage is that I earn my own money. I also learned how to count and calculate money at an early age. I’m learning the principles of business. Another advantage is that I get to interact with various people. I learn a lot and gain new business ideas through conversations, and even my vocabulary has improved over time,” she noted.

Chang’s initial plan was to save profits for university. Yet she has also begun to invest in philanthropy. “At first, I said I’d save my profits for university but my mother told me she need me to learn how to operate my own business first-hand. Therefore, I started investing in my business to improve it so I can start making more money where I can save enough to assist me with investing in my own higher education. I also started using my 10 per cent profits this year to invest in charity.”

Give Back Jamaica and the Friends of Porus Association have long supported communities. Their annual initiatives include providing school shoes and donating medical supplies to institutions such as the Porus Health Centre in Manchester.