2024 TJCF Little Entrepreneur Summer Fair: A Dream World Created by Kids

On August 25, 2024, The Joy Culture Foundation (凱芯文教基金會) hosted the vibrant 2024 TJCF Little Entrepreneur Summer Fair in the Bay Area. Seventeen groups of young entrepreneurs, aged 5 to 12, showcased their creativity and passion through this platform. The children sold a wide variety of products, ranging from handmade crafts to books and toys, all created with their own hands and marketed in Chinese. This fair wasn’t just a place for kids to exhibit their talents; it was an opportunity for them to learn valuable lessons about financial management and the hard work that goes into earning money.

Sandy Yu, Executive Director of The Joy Culture Foundation, explained that the goal of the event was to help children develop essential life skills and business knowledge from a young age. “This fair is more than just selling products. It’s about teaching children how to start a business, manage finances, and interact with others,” she said. Beyond the fair, The Joy Culture Foundation also offers a wide range of programs, including a library with over 6,000 books, membership systems, and various cultural and educational events. This summer, they successfully partnered with KTSF to host the Little Anchor Summer Camp, providing even more benefits for the Bay Area’s Chinese-speaking families.

LuLu Roberts, Founder of The Joy Culture Foundation, shared her vision: “The Joy Culture was born out of the desire to strengthen family relationships. We want to create a community specifically designed for Chinese families, so that immigrant mothers like myself can find a sense of belonging here, without feeling lonely.” She emphasized that many of The Joy Culture’s events, especially those for parents and children, aim to foster closer ties within Chinese families. For instance, on September 14, they will be hosting a Mid-Autumn Festival event called “Mid-Autumn Little Bookworms Celebrate Reunion,” featuring mooncake DIY, lantern-making workshops, traditional games, and storytelling sessions—creating a special time for families to bond.

Another highlight of the event came from The Joy Culture Foundation board member FangFang Tan, who introduced an innovative app she designed, StorywithAI. The app leverages generative AI technology to help parents, educators, and children create storybooks together. FangFang believes that AI is an unstoppable trend of the future, and parents should guide their children to use AI in a positive way, harnessing it to foster creativity, storytelling, and adaptability. This app makes the creative process accessible to everyone, empowering children to develop their imagination while giving parents a fun way to collaborate with their kids.

The fair also brought an unexpected delight: the appearance of KTSF’s Little Anchor, Cooper Hu. In addition to his news reporting training, Cooper set up his own booth at the fair, selling allergy-free bracelets that he handcrafted himself. His inspiration came after buying a necklace that caused an allergic reaction, leading him to create and sell jewelry that would not trigger similar reactions in others. He hopes his customers will be spared the disappointment he experienced.

Next year, KTSF and The Joy Culture Foundation will once again collaborate to host the Little Anchor Summer Camp, a unique experience designed for children interested in news reporting. The camp will offer comprehensive training in news writing, interviewing techniques, photography, and more, while allowing kids to practice hands-on. Participants will even have the chance to deliver real news reports from the KTSF studio and have their work aired on KTSF, creating unforgettable memories. In addition to gaining practical skills, the camp helps build children’s confidence, improve communication skills, and foster teamwork. Through the learning of Chinese and engaging in creative projects, kids will explore new passions and ideas. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, they will enjoy a summer full of fun, laughter, and personal growth.

Sign up 👉 for the 2025 Little Anchor Summer Camp today by entering your email and city to secure a spot in this amazing experience!