Metropolitan has partnered with the Young Entrepreneurs (YE) Foundation to teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship to high school children from disadvantaged communities.
YE was originally founded by Danie Jacobs, who started his first business at the age of five, selling his watercolour paintings for 10 cents each. A born entrepreneur, Jacobs 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. However, it was being a parent and realising that the world of work is changing to such an extent that unemployed graduates are the norm and not the exception, that prompted him to launch YE.
YE offers a programme developed by local and international professionals and utilises hands-on activities, games, simulations, videos and online applications to teach real-life 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.
It is offered to schools as an extramural option for interested students. However, through the partnership, it is provided to entire grades and is incorporated into the schools’ academic calendar. To date, this partnership has been rolled out in nine high schools across the Western and Eastern Cape
Jacobs says: “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.”
“The earlier in life that young people are exposed to this type of education, the greater their likelihood of financial wellness later in life. This, in turn, leads to a lesser chance of them repeating the financial mistakes of their parents,” adds Metropolitan CSI Manager, Elsie Govender.
For more information, visit https://www.metropolitan.co.za.
