Programme helps children become entrepreneurs

IN A bid to teach financial literacy and encourage entrepreneurship in high school children from disadvantaged communities, Metropolitan has partnered with the Young Entrepreneurs (YE) Foundation.

The YE, founded by businessman Danie Jacobs, offers a programme developed by local and international professionals. It uses hands-on activities, games, simulations, videos and online applications to teach reallife business and money lessons in a fun way.

The 30-week long programme comprises 15 weeks of entrepreneurship training and 15 weeks of financial literacy.

“Cultivating entrepreneurship in the youth is vital, as children are born imaginative, energetic and willing to take risks. Without entrepreneurial education, however, the enterprising spirit of children dramatically declines over time and is almost non-existent by the time they graduate from high school.

“Our programme is designed to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and helps make up for the gaps left by the traditional educational system that ill prepares students for the world of work and business,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs himself started running his own business at the age of five when he sold watercolour paintings for 10c. Later, he set up several businesses and initiatives over the course of his career, including the Centre for Business Dynamics at the University of the Free State.

But it was only when he became a father and the world of work was changing around him that he noticed unemployed graduates were becoming a norm in society.

The YE programme is offered at school as an extramural activity.

“The earlier in life young people are exposed to such education, the greater their likelihood of financial wellness later. This, in turn, lessens the chance of them repeating the financial mistakes of their parents,” said Metropolitan corporate social investment manager Elsie Govender.