SUNNY RIDGE – The business world can be a daunting experience. However, for a group of learners from Ferrum and Hope High Schools, it has become a less formidable world.
During 2016, approximately 82 learners took part in the Junior Achievers South Africa (JASA) annual Entrepreneur Programme.
JASA agent and facilitator, Linda Ford, said the programme saw Grade 10 and Grade 11 learners participate for 12 weeks.
“The first five weeks is theory, after which it is six weeks of selecting a product, market research and forming their respective businesses.”
At the conclusion of the programme, the businesses are liquidated and the youth are able to share the profits they made. “They finished in October last year and it went extremely well; we were able to teach them business skills,” Ms Ford said. While JASA ran the course, the initiative was driven by Investec.
It was through Investec that JASA came to Newcastle and got involved with local learners.
While the programme ended in 2016, learners discovered business often meant going the extra mile.
Last Friday, the learners set up stalls at Newcastle Mall in an attempt to sell their merchandise to Newcastillians.
“The experience was to teach learners about cold selling and to see how they did,” Ms Ford said.
Adding to the day’s educational experience, learners were also able to learn more about the business world from Sue Law, who has experience in the industry through her businesses, Mugg & Bean and Home Flair, as well as from Subashnee Naidoo, the manager from Edgars, who recently attended the International Retail Congress in Dubai.
The experience has left learners ready to tackle the business world.
