A young entrepreneur has spent the summer quenching Bermuda’s thirst, and learning the value of hard work one lemon at a time.Ashley Stephens started a lemonade stand earlier this year, and ran it on Saturdays outside Upscale Fashions, her mother Earlette’s St John’s Road store.The tiny stand became so popular that Ashley licensed it as a business and began selling her lemonade everywhere she could. Her confidence came in the great taste of her brew and the experience she’d gained while working in Upscale Fashions. It was there the Pembroke family discovered that Ashley had a flair for selling novelty piggy-banks.“When those were all sold I asked my mom what else I could sell, and we went on the internet, and we found lemonade,” she said.Added her father, Waymond Hill: “People kept telling us about different events where Ashley could sell her lemonade.“We had the Family Fun Day in Victoria Park, the majorette competition, the Round the Island boat race, and Ashley got a temporary permit to sell at each one.”Ms Stephens explained that Ashley’s internet inquiry on lemonade stands quickly brought her to a basic business plan for children.“She’s learned about saving, investment, charity, about the importance of giving back,” she explained.“We got great help from Stacey Madeiros-Cooke at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the Health Department, and then from Butterfield and Vallis when it came to setting up the business that’s where the lemons come from.”Mr Hill built and painted a stand with a sign for his daughter, and helps her with the near-daily job of squeezing lemons and mixing the drinks.Since Ashley doesn’t use a calculator to add up her accounts, the lemonade stand has kept her maths skills sharp over the summer.One problem? “It always gets in your eyes when you squeeze the lemons,” she said.People enjoyed drinking the results, however. Ashley’s stand where fresh lemonade goes for $3 a glass proved a hit with tourists.“Lots of Americans had lemonade stands when they were kids,” Ms Stephens said. “People had different memories of the prices they charged.“For some it was 15 cents, for some it was 25 cents. All the tourists were coming up to Ashley’s stand to meet her.”Threw in Ashley: “When they taste it, they know it’s worth it.“I met one tourist who had a stand when she was small. Her name was Ashley too. She took a picture to show people at home.”Ultimately, Ms Stephens said: “Ashley loves it because of her personality. She loves meeting people and loves to talk.”The Bermuda High School student, who will start year five next week, has also found good uses for her earnings.At First Baptist Church in Devonshire, she learned of children in Nicaragua who don’t have shoes.Ashley said: “If I give $10 to them through my church, that can buy a pair of shoes.”Ashley has also contributed $50 a month through the summer to the Coalition for the Protection of Children’s food programme, which will help provide breakfasts as the Island’s children return to school this month.Asked if she was saving any money for herself, Ashley said: “I want to buy a house, but that’s a long way away. It could go towards college. I want to be a dentist.”She has also been able to pay for her own voice lessons.Ashley’s vending permit will last until November. Asked if she would keep the lemonade business going on Saturdays during the school year, she said: “I think I would, because it’s so much fun, and people drink all year round. I drink lemonade when it’s hot or cold. And it’s very good for you.”www.ehow.com.