The 19-week Junior Achievement (JA) business-education program started Oct. 16. Over the weeks, students will decide what their service or product is, elect an executive and learn about business plans. They’ll do everything needed to run a company and, at the end of the session, the students will sell the company.
Before beginning its brainstorming session, the group played an icebreaker.
Multiple suggestions about what to make emerged at the meeting, including a bag that can fold out for a seat and backrest, a portable pocket and cause-supporting bracelets, among others.
Volunteers will be working with the group by mentoring and guiding students through the program.
Peter Ripple is a retired teacher who enjoyed working with youth and says he wanted to get re-involved. Another volunteer, Doug Millar, says Ripple asked him to volunteer. He says the first meeting involved telling students about JA and the program, and explaining the group’s responsibilities as a company. Millar says all the students seemed interested in learning about business.
Brenda Kenney, Junior JA’s program manager for southwest Nova Scotia led the meeting. After the brainstorming session, Kenney put group member into three committees. Each committee will make one of the top three products. The group also got the job of doing a survey to find out what people would pay for their product.
Junior Achievement is an international non-profit organization that works to inspire and prepare youth for the changing global economy by actually running a business.
The group will be taking part in ‘Pitch It’ in Bridgewater Nov. 22. Kenney compared ‘Pitch It’ to ‘Dragons’ Den.’
Kenny is still looking for a volunteer with some business experience to help run the program in Liverpool.
To learn more about JA, visit http://nova-scotia.jacan.org. To contact Brenda Kenney, call 902-691-2233.
