- 112 Uitenhage Primary Children taking part in the Young Entrepreneurs Foundation Programme
- Teaching children vital entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills
On 31 July 2017, the Young Entrepreneurs (YE) Foundation launched its first program in the Uitenhage area at the Uitenhage Primary School. The YE Foundation was able to launch this project with the funds donated to them by the Volkswagen for Good Initiative run by the Volkswagen Community Trust. To date, the Volkswagen for Good Initiative has handed over funds to the value of R2.8 million to deserving local charities and non-profit organizations allowing these organizations to continue the good work they do in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
The Young Entrepreneurs Foundation (YE) program teaches children, aged between 7-15, vital entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills. This helps children start and grow their own micro-enterprises in a fun and experiential way. The programs run over 30 weeks and schools are utilized as study centers. The classes are offered by YE accredited Facilitators. One of their goals is to inspire youth and change their lives.
The children are divided into two sections Minipreneurs (Grade 2 and 3) and Kidpreneurs (Grade 4-6). The program runs from Monday 31 July to Friday 24 November.
In Minipreneurs there are 5 classes each consisting of 12 learners per group. The Kidpreneurs classes consist of 4 classes with 13 learners per group. The teaching staff at Uitenhage Primary School assisted in selecting the children for the program. The classes are also run the teachers at the school who have been trained in all the facilitation and technical skills required.
At the launch Ansulene Prinsloo, the Implementation Agent for the YE Foundation in the Eastern Cape said “Given all the realities there has never been a more important time to empower and capacitate our children to become the authors of their own destiny. It is through sponsorships like these that we can change the lives of children and provide them with the necessary skills to become valuable contributors to the economy and society at large. Together we inspire dreams and thanks to VWSA for that”
Each child also received a backpack, books and various products/ materials that they will require for the 30-week program.
“Seeing the money donated by the Volkswagen for Good Initiative being used in a real and tangible way to enrich the lives of young children is encouraging and reinforces VWSA’s commitment to early childhood development and education. Teaching a child independence and entrepreneurial skills can and will be life changing for them as they grow older,” said Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen Group South Africa Chairman and Managing Director.