Visit a school of a different kind today on English Bites.


PETER MCCUTCHEON: This group of suburban teenagers is about to take part in a potentially life-changing program trying to turn today's high school dropouts into tomorrow's entrepreneurs.

LOUISE EARNSHAW, PYSCHOLOGIST: I think it's actually just giving kids, who are talented, who are maverick, who are misfits, the opportunity to find their talent.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: It's an idea out of left field, for a group of young people that haven't always followed the straight and narrow.

CHRIS LANCASTER AND GARY VOLPE: We all go out and play with fireworks - blow stuff up.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: You've blown stuff up?

CHRIS LANCASTER & GARY VOLPE: Oh yeah.

LOUSIE EARNSHAW So do you know what an entrepreneur is?

CHRIS LANCASTER: He's actually a full businessman and he already owns stuff and he knows what he's doing.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: The Certificate of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Skills program is the brainchild of psychologist Louise Earnshaw. She selected the Brisbane teenagers from a larger group referred through the Federal Government's JPET program for unemployed young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

LOUISE EARNSHAW: I was particularly looking for kids who were bright, kids who have disengaged from school who are probably unemployed and are also really willing to do something about their situation.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: Louise Earnshaw is basing this program on her own research, showing personality similarities between certain types of successful entrepreneurs, and kids at risk.
And the big project they're taking on is the organising of a band night at the Mt Gravatt Police Youth Citizens Club - drafting youth worker Sean Marchetti to help them.

SEAN MARCHETTI: They got the flyers printed, they cut 3000 flyers. Pretty much organised all the bands. I gave them all the resources and they just followed through - and they did it. I didn't think they would and it really shocked me.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: Finally the big day arrives, and the group is on tenterhooks. So how are you three feeling?

GARY, MARK & ASHLEIGH: Nervous. Excited. Fine. Happy. I think.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: Why are you feeling nervous?

GARY: I don't know, it's sort of like pressure you know - but we've got it done so it's good.

PETER MCCUTCHEON: This night has been more than two months in the making. Over 100 teenagers turn up, generating a small profit, welcomed by the local Police Citizens Youth Club. Coming to terms with their success, the members of the group are deciding whether to organise other band nights or undertake further study. Can you believe you got this far?
For the three youngsters who made this happen, it's an important lesson about living up to their potential.

ASHLEIGH BUHNEE: No matter what happens to a kid in their life, nothing can really stop them and it's about being strong in yourself and as long as us three stick together, we can achieve anything we want.

LOUISE EARNSHAW: Most importantly I think they've realised in themselves that they can take control of their own learning, they can take control of their own lives.