The sounds of drumming and shouting radiate throughout the halls of PS 340 as the elementary students’ simulated African marketplace comes to life.

“Two dollars!” one child yells, while another tries to haggle down the price.

Made possible by a grant from Marquis Studios and funding from the Kent Brothers Foundation, two weeks ago, the third graders at PS 340 in Kingsbridge made and sold crafts at an African-style fair geared to teach younger generations how to handle money.

Virginia Kuppek, a third grade teacher and one of the event organizers, said the grant allowed each one of the classes to loan $100 to an entrepreneur in Africa.

It started with students learning about Africa, Kuppek said. “That was a jump off point, because in social studies, students learn about economics as well as culture and from there the kids learned what it means to loan money.”

Each third grade class was presented with two prospective business owners in Africa. Students then analyzed the business plans and decided who they would support. In the process, Kuppek said, students learned how to run a business and how to make and save their money.

Third grader Naomi Gomez said she had fun making picture frames and other crafts that she sold in the fair, but also came to understand more about how businesses work.

“I learned that having a business is hard, hard work, but also is fun,” Naomi said. 

John Kent, who has helped run the funding program that his brother David started three years ago to teach financial responsibility, said the event is part of the foundation’s goal to reach children at a young age.

When the economy started sputtering, Kent said, “A lot of people got into a lot of trouble and there was no one to help them and no education in the schools.”

Representatives from Ridgewood Savings Bank also came to the market.

“We came to try and help kids try to save, and the kids were very interested,” said Jami LaForgia, a Ridgewood representative.

La Forgia said she finds it works to get younger generations in the mode of saving before they become adults. “(Adults are) already in the habit of not saving, so when you start telling them to do it now, it’s hard,” Forgia said. “But now the kids have an opportunity to [learn about saving] and not wish that they [had before].”