Junior Achievement Program Launched In Angola
Photo: Phil Nelo, US Embassy
USAID, partnering with the Ministry of Education and a Consortium of Private Sector entities in Angola, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 29th to commemorate the parties' shared aim to launch a new entrepreneurship and economics program called "Junior Achievement" in Angolan schools in the 2007 school year. Besides US Ambassador Cynthia Efird, USAID Acting Mission Director Mervyn Farroe, and Vice-Minister of Education Pinda Simão, sponsoring members of the consortium of the private sector were present, including figures from Esso Exploration Angola, Coca-Cola, ODEBRECHT, Chevron, Alcatel, and Sistec.
In Angola young people have limited opportunities for vocational training and career planning, and most students graduate from elementary or even secondary school unprepared to compete in the marketplace or strike out as entrepreneurs. These students lack skills in financial literacy, the self-confidence to be creative problem solvers, and the courage to take risks. The Junior Achievement program, already active in over 100 countries and reaching some 7.5 million school students every year, has been educating and inspiring young people to value the benefits of free enterprise, business and economics since it was founded by two American entrepreneurs in 1919. In Angola, Junior Achievement will pilot in 7th, 10th, and 12th grade classes at 6 public schools in Luanda province and in Bom Jesus in Bengo province. After piloting in Luanda this year, the program will expand into other provinces in the 2008 and 2009 school years.
One central feature of the success of JA programs is the role of mentors from the private sector. These professional men and women volunteer their time to go to the classroom and impart the JA programs along with their own experience and expertise. In the JA Angola pilot program, accountants, administrators, marketers, managers, and other professionals sponsoring companies, USAID, the US Embassy, and other corporate and civil society organizations will teach Angolan students about starting a business, managing personal finances, and setting career goals.
In addition to the $400,000 committed by USAID, Esso Exploration Angola, Coca-Cola, and ODEBRECHT have each contributed $50,000 to the launch of the program, and other businesses are considering making financial or in-kind contributions. JA Angola Executive Director Luciano Chianeque anticipates that the program will reach 1,310 students during the pilot year, and it will rapidly expand to schools in additional provinces in 2008 and 2009.
