Classroom Bazaar – Entrepreneurship in Savremena

Savremena Primary School held another colourful, lively, and wonderfully attended school bazaar — an event that turned classrooms into a small, cheerful marketplace filled with stands, scents, colours, laughter, and children’s energy. The bazaar is traditionally one of the most beloved days in our school, and once again it showed everything Savremena nurtures: community, creativity, initiative, and the big-hearted generosity children naturally show when you give them space to create and make decisions.

From early morning, students filled their classrooms preparing the “shops” they designed themselves. Every stand was unique and carried the personal touch of its young owners: pancakes, cookies, juices, toys, bracelets, keychains, hair accessories, sweets, handmade crafts, stickers, and many other little items created with excitement, care, and pride.

This year too, the children sold items to one another, creating the atmosphere of a true mini-market where everything works spontaneously — yet responsibly. A particularly touching moment was a rule the students decided on themselves: preschoolers did not have to pay for anything. The youngest visitors were the honorary guests of the bazaar, and older students generously offered them sweets, bracelets, and toys, showing them how welcome they are in the Savremena community. It was a gesture of kindness and empathy that became one of the most memorable moments of the entire event.

Stands as small workshops of creativity and organisation

What made this bazaar even more special was the fact that the students were responsible for everything: from the idea, preparation, and decoration of the stand, to setting the prices, serving customers, and handling money.
Some students organised themselves into culinary teams — they put on black uniforms, gloves, and turned their table into a mini kitchen from which pancakes were disappearing faster than they could be made. For many, this was their first experience working in a “real” little pastry shop, where they needed to think about hygiene, order of preparation, and speed.

Other stands resembled small galleries of handmade items: students created bracelets, beaded earrings, hair scrunchies, decorations, and even small clay or plasticine figures. Every piece had its own story — born from imagination, patience, and the desire to offer something special to a classmate. A third group of students ran stands filled with sweets, crisps, drinks, and snacks — clearly labelled and arranged. These students mastered the basics of “marketing” by inviting classmates to try their products, offering discounts, and inventing small promotions to attract buyers.

Learning that goes far beyond the classroom walls

While the bazaar is undeniably fun — and it truly was — each year it brings valuable lessons that simply cannot be found in textbooks.
Through play and collaboration, the children practised:

basic principles of entrepreneurship
organising space and workflow
communicating with customers
negotiating and working as a team
managing money responsibly
fairness, respect, and supporting one another

What stood out the most was how proud the students were of their stands and how seriously they took their roles. They made an effort to be polite, patient, and fair — even during the busiest moments.

The school was buzzing with energy: students walked from stand to stand, inviting friends to try what they had prepared, exchanging impressions, making decisions, laughing, and enjoying every moment. The classrooms were filled with the sound of chatter, the smell of pancakes, the rustling of snack wrappers, and an atmosphere that connected everyone.

Once again, the bazaar proved how important it is to give children space to be independent, creative, and responsible — because they do it better than we expect. And when they do it together, the magic is undeniable, seen clearly in their smiles and excitement.