Stepping out of stage fright into leadership
Timothy Mulwana is 13 years old and in Grade 7 at Elohim Academy, Uganda. When he first joined the School Enterprise Challenge, he was not confident. "My friends would describe me as afraid", he says simply.
Speaking in front of others felt overwhelming, Timothy remembers the feeling: everyone looking at you, judging what you say. Even answering a question in class could make him doubt himself.
But that began to change
Timothy is part of a student-run business called Planet Savers, a team focused on solving a simple but common problem: students losing their school materials.
Using waste plastic as a solution
Their solution? a pencil holder made from recycled plastic bottles. Their innovative design includes a zipper and built-in sharpener, designed to keep pencils organised and store pencil shavings - so reducing waste in the classroom.
Learning through real challenges and stepping into leadership
Like any real business, Planet Savers has faced obstacles.
Some parts broke. Some products didn’t work. Attaching the sharpener to the bottle proved especially difficult. Instead of giving up, they adapted - finding solutions, redoing work when needed, and improving their process.
Through this, Timothy learned something bigger: "You can actually work as a team and solve problems".
Stepping up
With encouragement from his teacher, Timothy took on the role of Production Manager - a position that initially felt daunting. "This was my first time ... I wondered if I was going to do it right".
With practice, he grew into the role. Today, Timothy oversees the production process, ensuring each step - from cutting and levelling bottles to attaching zippers and sharpeners - is done correctly. He also teaches other students how to make the products.
With that responsibility came challenges. Explaining tasks to teammates and gaining their trust wasn’t always easy. "Sometimes they thought I wasn't telling them the right thing".
Over time, Timothy has learned how to communicate more clearly and work as part of a team, skills that became just as important as making the product itself.
A turning point
Timothy was asked to go on stage and explain his team’s business to parents. This time, something felt different. "I felt very confident" he recalls.
That moment marked a shift. Today, Timothy speaks in front of others without the same fear holding him back. "I feel confident and I don't get stage fright"
Beyond the technical and business skills he has gained in the School Enterprise Challenge, the biggest change for Timothy has been personal.
Timothy now sees himself as someone who can lead, teach, and speak up. He shares his experience with friends and encourages others to think differently about waste.
His goal for the future is to become a businessman and own multiple businesses, something that he had wished for before but didn’t feel confident enough in his abilities.
