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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9th, 2017 – In keeping with Giving Africa’s mission to create learning environments to empower children to lift themselves, their family and their community from poverty, JA Africa has received a grant in the amount of $15,070 from Giving Africa to implement the JA Company Program at Bethel Secondary School in Gourcy, Burkina Faso.
The JA Company Program provides basic economic education for high school students by allowing them to organize and operate an actual business. Students not only learn how businesses function, they also learn soft skills that are instrumental to success; such as brainstorming, consensus building, critical reading, gathering and organizing information, group and self-assessment, interpreting production inventory, oral and written communication.
“JA Africa is honored to have received this grant from Giving Africa. We are excited to begin this partnership and continue our support for youth entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso.” said Elizabeth Bintliff, CEO, JA Africa
Giving Africa’s projects and work with Bethel School involve working to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in which children can thrive. Under this grant, 300 senior high school students will receive training that develops their understanding of business and entrepreneurship, and builds their skills to establish and manage a business. The training is expected to result in increased financial knowledge and skills of participants; improved ability by the participants to apply entrepreneurial skills to education, career and service pursuits; and the establishment of in-school and community enterprises. To supplement the Company Program, JA Africa will make use of University College London’s Citrus Saturday toolkit to provide an introductory experience to entrepreneurship to the students. Students will also be paired with mentors who will coach them to use their new entrepreneurial and business skills to develop, implement and sustain entrepreneurial ventures that generate income to improve their living standard.
“Giving Africa aims to empower the children of Bethel School and surrounding areas to become the next generation of leaders – giving them the choice to set up on their own, gain employment or access further education – thus lifting themselves and their communities from poverty. We are delighted to be working with JA Africa and JA Burkina Faso to achieve these goals.” stated Caroline Loden, CEO of Giving Africa.
About Junior Achievement:
As one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs, JA Worldwide activates youth for the future of jobs. Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we empower young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings and investments, and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. With more than 100 member countries, the JA Worldwide network is powered by over 470,000 volunteers and mentors, who serve more than 10 million young people around the world each year.
About Giving Africa:
Giving Africa was set up in 2010 to help bring African children out of poverty through education. It was established by international business speaker, trainer and coach Craig Goldblatt. Currently projects are based at Bethel Secondary School in partnership with the well-respected NGO, Association Evangelique d’Appui Development (AEAD). The aim is to extend support to other schools and children in Africa. For more details go to: www.givingafrica.org or contact Eleanor Thompson (Eleanor@givingafrica.org).
