Inspiring and Motivating Young Minds

Junior Achievement South Africa (JASA) is a nationwide, nonprofit organisation that offers experiential entrepreneurial business, financial literacy and workplace readiness programmes for young people. JASA has educated young South Africans across the country for the past 32 years in the fields of business and entrepreneurial skills through practical experiential programmes.

JASA is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, one of the largest business education organisations in the world, operating in 120 countries globally, including 17 in Africa.

Subject to the governance of an independent Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, JASA provides its stakeholders with responsible, effective management and the tax advantages associated with an educational trust. Independently audited by Deloitte, JASA has earned the reputation of a financially well-managed organisation which effectively utilises resources to achieve a far reaching impact on the lives of South African youth.

Vision
JASA invests in, involves and inspires youth for economic success in South Africa.

Mission

JASA educates and inspires young people to develop entrepreneurial and life skills through learning by doing and through committed staff and volunteers, to make a positive contribution to the South African economy.

Purpose

The purpose of JASA is to prepare young people for life after school by raising their awareness of economic issues, teaching them entrepreneurial, life skills providing them with an understanding of the business world as well as enhancing their sense of personal responsibility through practical business experience.

Current Programmes

Financial Literacy Programmes:

JA More Than Money – A six-hour programme which teaches learners about earning, spending, sharing, and saving money, and starting own businesses or doing jobs to earn money. This programme is exclusively funded by HSBC. It is suitable for Grades 3-5 learners.

MMBiz – A 21-hour programme for high school learners, assisting them to learn how to manage their financial lives in a responsible way. The programme develops their ability to analyse their motivations about the uses of money and establish good financial habits which can carry over into their adult lives. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Banks in Action – A 16-hour programme which explores the banking sector, how a bank functions and careers in banking with a computer simulation exercise of running a ‘real’ bank. Suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Entrepreneurial Development Programmes:

Enterprise Dynamics Programme – A 42-hour programme which is divided into four phases. The programme introduces learners to the concepts of the economic life of families, communities and countries. Learners explore setting up a mini-business to learn the theory and practicalities of small businesses. Learners are also introduced to the knowledge and skills required to access future employment. It is suitable for Grades 4-9 learners.

JA It’s My Business – A six-hour programme which emphasises entrepreneurship while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading, and writing skills. Learners are encouraged to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations. It is suitable for Grades 6-10 learners.

JA Be Entrepreneurial – A seven-hour programme during which learners develop the essential components of a business plan. In so doing, the programme challenges learners to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school. It is suitable for Grades 9-12 learners.

The Mini Enterprise Programme – A 33-42 hour programme over 11 weeks intensive business programme where learners start up and run their own business after selecting a product or service.

Out of School Youth Enterprise Development Programme – A 20 session programme over three months, during which students are required to start up and run a business which will be sustainable, through on-going support, mentorship and financing, upon programme completion. The programme includes site visits, case studies, guest speakers, and an introduction to micro finance. It is suitable for learners from 18-25 years.

JA Titan – A seven-hour programme which introduces learners to critical economics and management decisions through an interactive simulation. This programme is exclusively funded by Oracle. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Workplace Readiness:

JA Success Skills – A 20-hour programme which prepares learners for entry into the workplace by covering crucial issues such as self-assessment, communication skills, preparing for job interviews, compiling a good Curriculum Vitae (CV) as well as team work, building rapport and influencing others. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Combination Programmes:

The Junior Achievement South Africa Entrepreneurship Academy Programme – A seven to eight-month long programme with weekly sessions of three hours each, incorporating entrepreneurial, financial literacy and workplace readiness programmes, as well as micro-economics and business ethics. Suitable for Grades 10-12 and out of school youth. Acceptance onto this programme is subject to a selection process.

Impact & Contribution to Society

Youth unemployment in South Africa is one of the highest in the world. It is estimated that approximately 40 percent of all young people under the age of 30 are unemployed. (Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2010 published by Statistics South Africa).

Although entrepreneurial activity is considered to be an important mechanism to address this massive challenge of youth unemployment, the current South African school curriculum does not provide for practical skills development in the understanding and management of economics, business, entrepreneurship and personal finances, leaving little scope for school leavers to shape a future for themselves through the establishment of a business.

For the past 32 years, JASA has been providing these essential business and entrepreneurial skills to young people of all ages, across the country, in both rural and urban environments.  

Through a range of practical programme modules and interventions, learners on the programmes develop an understanding of business and entrepreneurship,   and are provided with insight into what is required to start up and run a real small business. Through the practical nature of the programme, learners start up and run a real small business, and in the process learn how to conduct market research, manage the finances of a business and manage a real small business. The learners also understand how to manage a bank account.

City and Guilds’ Centre for Skills Development recently completed an evaluation of JASA’s Mini Enterprise Programme, under the banner of the Entrepreneurship Academy Programme. Key findings include:

• Learners reported significant changes in their perceptions of the financial prospects of entrepreneurship, improvements in family and friends’ attitudes toward entrepreneurship as a career path, and increased confidence that they would be able to undertake a range of activities involved in setting up a business;
• Learners reported significant improvements in their knowledge about business principles including supply and demand, income and profit, and competitive advantage. They also felt that their practical business skills had improved after the programme;
• The evaluation found that the programme was effective in developing transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and planning. Learners also indicated that they had significantly more confidence in presenting themselves to employers after completing the programme.

Over a range of programmes during 2011, JASA reached a total of 10 382 learners across 21 717 interventions, with a number of learners completing more than one programme intervention.

For more about Junior Achievement South Africa, refer to www.jasa.org.za.

Inspiring and Motivating Young Minds

Junior Achievement South Africa (JASA) is a nationwide, nonprofit organisation that offers experiential entrepreneurial business, financial literacy and workplace readiness programmes for young people. JASA has educated young South Africans across the country for the past 32 years in the fields of business and entrepreneurial skills through practical experiential programmes.

JASA is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, one of the largest business education organisations in the world, operating in 120 countries globally, including 17 in Africa.

Subject to the governance of an independent Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, JASA provides its stakeholders with responsible, effective management and the tax advantages associated with an educational trust. Independently audited by Deloitte, JASA has earned the reputation of a financially well-managed organisation which effectively utilises resources to achieve a far reaching impact on the lives of South African youth.

Vision
JASA invests in, involves and inspires youth for economic success in South Africa.

Mission

JASA educates and inspires young people to develop entrepreneurial and life skills through learning by doing and through committed staff and volunteers, to make a positive contribution to the South African economy.

Purpose

The purpose of JASA is to prepare young people for life after school by raising their awareness of economic issues, teaching them entrepreneurial, life skills providing them with an understanding of the business world as well as enhancing their sense of personal responsibility through practical business experience.

Current Programmes

Financial Literacy Programmes:

JA More Than Money – A six-hour programme which teaches learners about earning, spending, sharing, and saving money, and starting own businesses or doing jobs to earn money. This programme is exclusively funded by HSBC. It is suitable for Grades 3-5 learners.

MMBiz – A 21-hour programme for high school learners, assisting them to learn how to manage their financial lives in a responsible way. The programme develops their ability to analyse their motivations about the uses of money and establish good financial habits which can carry over into their adult lives. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Banks in Action – A 16-hour programme which explores the banking sector, how a bank functions and careers in banking with a computer simulation exercise of running a ‘real’ bank. Suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Entrepreneurial Development Programmes:

Enterprise Dynamics Programme – A 42-hour programme which is divided into four phases. The programme introduces learners to the concepts of the economic life of families, communities and countries. Learners explore setting up a mini-business to learn the theory and practicalities of small businesses. Learners are also introduced to the knowledge and skills required to access future employment. It is suitable for Grades 4-9 learners.

JA It’s My Business – A six-hour programme which emphasises entrepreneurship while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading, and writing skills. Learners are encouraged to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations. It is suitable for Grades 6-10 learners.

JA Be Entrepreneurial – A seven-hour programme during which learners develop the essential components of a business plan. In so doing, the programme challenges learners to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school. It is suitable for Grades 9-12 learners.

The Mini Enterprise Programme – A 33-42 hour programme over 11 weeks intensive business programme where learners start up and run their own business after selecting a product or service.

Out of School Youth Enterprise Development Programme – A 20 session programme over three months, during which students are required to start up and run a business which will be sustainable, through on-going support, mentorship and financing, upon programme completion. The programme includes site visits, case studies, guest speakers, and an introduction to micro finance. It is suitable for learners from 18-25 years.

JA Titan – A seven-hour programme which introduces learners to critical economics and management decisions through an interactive simulation. This programme is exclusively funded by Oracle. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Workplace Readiness:

JA Success Skills – A 20-hour programme which prepares learners for entry into the workplace by covering crucial issues such as self-assessment, communication skills, preparing for job interviews, compiling a good Curriculum Vitae (CV) as well as team work, building rapport and influencing others. It is suitable for Grades 10-12 learners.

Combination Programmes:

The Junior Achievement South Africa Entrepreneurship Academy Programme – A seven to eight-month long programme with weekly sessions of three hours each, incorporating entrepreneurial, financial literacy and workplace readiness programmes, as well as micro-economics and business ethics. Suitable for Grades 10-12 and out of school youth. Acceptance onto this programme is subject to a selection process.

Impact & Contribution to Society

Youth unemployment in South Africa is one of the highest in the world. It is estimated that approximately 40 percent of all young people under the age of 30 are unemployed. (Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2010 published by Statistics South Africa).

Although entrepreneurial activity is considered to be an important mechanism to address this massive challenge of youth unemployment, the current South African school curriculum does not provide for practical skills development in the understanding and management of economics, business, entrepreneurship and personal finances, leaving little scope for school leavers to shape a future for themselves through the establishment of a business.

For the past 32 years, JASA has been providing these essential business and entrepreneurial skills to young people of all ages, across the country, in both rural and urban environments.  

Through a range of practical programme modules and interventions, learners on the programmes develop an understanding of business and entrepreneurship,   and are provided with insight into what is required to start up and run a real small business. Through the practical nature of the programme, learners start up and run a real small business, and in the process learn how to conduct market research, manage the finances of a business and manage a real small business. The learners also understand how to manage a bank account.

City and Guilds’ Centre for Skills Development recently completed an evaluation of JASA’s Mini Enterprise Programme, under the banner of the Entrepreneurship Academy Programme. Key findings include:

• Learners reported significant changes in their perceptions of the financial prospects of entrepreneurship, improvements in family and friends’ attitudes toward entrepreneurship as a career path, and increased confidence that they would be able to undertake a range of activities involved in setting up a business;
• Learners reported significant improvements in their knowledge about business principles including supply and demand, income and profit, and competitive advantage. They also felt that their practical business skills had improved after the programme;
• The evaluation found that the programme was effective in developing transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and planning. Learners also indicated that they had significantly more confidence in presenting themselves to employers after completing the programme.

Over a range of programmes during 2011, JASA reached a total of 10 382 learners across 21 717 interventions, with a number of learners completing more than one programme intervention.

For more about Junior Achievement South Africa, refer to www.jasa.org.za.