A new UAE-based initiative called Snack Troops is teaching school children financial literacy and entrepreneurship by combining the classic tradition of cookie sales with charitable giving and a modern focus on healthy living. The program was founded by Adam Zargar, a father and former teacher turned life coach.
By the Numbers
The program is structured as a simple and engaging challenge for students:
- 3 Weeks: The duration of each sales challenge for participating students.
- 12 Packs: The number of snack packs contained in each basket given to students to sell.
- 2 Brands: The initiative features two small snack brands, including “Cookie Cubs” cookies and other healthy, bite-sized snacks.
How the Program Works
The model is straightforward: schools that sign up for the challenge receive free baskets of snacks to distribute to student participants. The children then have three weeks to sell as many packs as they can. The profits raised by the school from the challenge are then donated to a charity of their choice. This model gives students a noble cause to sell for, which helps build their purpose and self-confidence.
Building a Generation of Confident Entrepreneurs
The Snack Troops challenge aims to build essential life skills from a young age. As they sell, children learn basic bookkeeping, how to make a sales pitch, and how to handle rejection. “All of this [exercise helps in] building confidence, problem-solving, perseverance, and resilience,” explained founder Adam Zargar. He noted that some children who started the program as shy and nervous have blossomed into confident sellers, even devising their own creative sales tactics. This was echoed by Jade Cail, Assistant Principal at GEMS Founders School Dubai, who said the challenge helped students “practice entrepreneurship at a young age.”
A Supported and Transparent Challenge
While students are encouraged to show initiative, they are not left on their own. The program provides schools with optional lesson plans co-created with teachers. To ensure fairness and transparency, sales and receipts are monitored using QR codes and a dedicated app for each school. Top sellers are rewarded with prizes from sponsors, which have included hotel stays from Rove Hotels, gift vouchers from Wondergifts.ae, and healthy pizzas from PizzaExpress. The program’s main sponsor, Emirates NBD Venuelle, has also provided free financial literacy workshops for parents.
Source: Khaleej Times
