By JAVIER SAMARAN | PROJECT MANAGER
Given the increasing level of youth unemployment ( 55,13 % in Spain) we face the challenge of providing new generations with the skills and competencies needed in a changing world.
Junior Achievement sustains and promotes education as the transforming agent of society and proposes DONORS to contribute directly through practical and innovative program in order to "revert this situation".
At the beginning it was not easy for us to make students understand how important this opportunity will be for their near future, it was about empowering youth from low-income school to excel in the classroom, on their future job, and beyond by giving them an entrepreneurial education by encouraging students to develop their own small businesses Company Program volunteer
The Company program provides opportunities for young people in Spain to develop skills they need to find their first employ and succeed in their future workplace. Moreover, the programme focuses on improving students´ achievements, encouraging creativity and innovation. The programme has a special focus on financial and social issues so that, under the strictest observation of ethical values, students learn necessary skills to improve their lives through the right use of economic tools.
A good example of this it was Ivan’s story.His education was supervised by social services, with rather poor results, the probability (according to the teacher) to enter a reformatory was quite high. Thanks to enthusiasm and good advice gave by ArcelorMittal volunteers, the structure of program and the excellent work of his teacher, today Iván is preparing himself to be a policeman, he has had his driving licence and he want to have a nice future.
The case of Tie Shoes arrived to the National TV as an excellent example of entrepreneurship education.
Through entrepreneurship education, young people, including those with disabilities, learn organizational skills, including time management, leadership development and interpersonal skills, all of which are highly transferable skills sought by employers.
THANKS to all agents involved (include YOU DONOR), during 2013-2014 school year, 3.670 STUDENTS form 9 autonomous communities have formed 499 EDUCATIONAL MINICOMPANIES. In compare with 2012-2013 academic year we have increased in 27.4% the students beneficiaries.
Something remarcable it´s the JA company program adaptation to SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM. The SEP aims the pool of potential social entrepreneurs by providing access to education is social enterprise to you young people age 15-18.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP has gained considerable attention both locally, nationally and internationally over the past years. The language of social entrepreneurship may be new, but we have always had social entrepreneurs, even if we didn’t call them that.
Through this edition more than 100 students from 20 minicompanies have created Social Projects, and we are sure that this figure will be increased exponentially next editions.
IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM
After 1 year, students perceive improved competence in these areas: taking initiative, perseverance, selfconfidence,
creativity control of the environment, taking responsibility, team work
After 1 year, students say they have the knowledge and skills they require to start a business and higher confidence
Later on, alumni are twice as likely as their peers to start a business.
Links:
By Juan Martin | Minicompany program
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