Fostering the development of entrepreneurial skills among the youth is tantamount to developing young people’s confidence, leadership qualities, communication skills, as well as increasing their individual value as a team player. In becoming future pillars of the forthcoming generation, their attitudes and outlook will have a significant impact on the global community.
Promoting entrepreneurship works best if there is participation among local civic leaders, local government and the local business community. Encouraging young people to take part in economic development programmes will provide access to business training, and basic financial mentoring. The experience will help them become an effective business plan writer, who can identify revenue opportunities, understand costing strategies and recognize advantages, when taking risks and in dealing with competition.
Two organizations that can be cited as good examples are the Aflatoun International and the Junior Achievement. Both organizations have been successful in fostering entrepreneurship among primary and secondary level students. They work toward teaching young people, not only about technical skills but also soft skills like self-confidence, leadership, communication and teamwork.
About Aflatoun International
Aflatoun International is a non-profit organization that works independently from any federal government, but with principal office in The Netherlands. This NGO, partners with education institutions in providing social and financial mentoring to children in primary levels and to high school students.
The Aflateen program is designed specifically for teenagers, ranging in ages between 14 and 19 years old. The modules of which comprise social and financial education that imparts tailor-fit lessons about money and markets actually affecting young people’s lives. The goal of the program is to prepare youths in navigating their way through an increasingly complex world of business and its demanding job market.
That way, the next generation of entry-level employees or future start-up entrepreneurs, will have developed the soft skills and attitudes that will enable them to get ahead in life.
To date, Aflatoun International has a strong network comprising 275 partners and 35 governments, all instrumental in reaching 8.6 million children and young people yearly, in more than 100 countries.
About Junior Achievement U.S.A.
Junior Achievement (JA) USA is a Colorado-based NGO with approximately 1,600 employees working in 106 offices located across all 50 states. The local board in each state constitutes volunteers coming from the local business community, educational institutions and civic leaders; all working together in formulating policies and in directing the programs in their local JA.
JA’s primary goal is to give young people increased opportunities for economic success by teaching them how to make wise academic and economic choices when contemplating plans for their future. Mentoring includes making high school students realize that the education they are currently acquiring will be their stepping stones toward a bright future.
Through JA’s programs, young people are presented with all future possibilities and of the different paths they can choose in securing their future; such as getting a college education, learning and mastering a specific trade skill or by starting their own business.
Junior Achievement reaches nearly 5 million students per year, to whom training and education are provided in 212,101 classrooms and after-school sites established across the country.
