Skills for life and business give young people a future

JAZ, a private sector initiative and a member of the World Junior Achievement organisation, founded in the United States by Horace Moses in 1919. It began working in Zimbabwe in 1998.

“JAZ’s main thrust is to prepare and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, economics and entrepreneurship by helping them appreciate how business is conceived and run,” said Lubako Mzila Ndlovu, JAZ programmes officer, in an interview with The Zimbabwean.

“We also teach young people about the relevance of education in workplaces as well as the impact of economics on young people’s future. It’s about improving the quality of their lives and the communities in which they live,”

JAZ programmes also focus on financial literacy, career development and character-building.

Ndlovu explained that their programmes ran in sequence and were designed for primary and secondary students as well as school-leavers.

“For primary school pupils, we have the Our Nation programme, which provides basic information on how businesses run. We also have the Junior Aflatoun programme in partnership with Child Savings. Under this programme, we help pupils set up small businesses such as sweet and biscuit selling,” she said.

Secondary school students are trained to develop strong interpersonal skills and the practical skills of running a business. Participants experience business functions first-hand by forming their own companies in schools.

“They put in place their own company structure, including a chief executive officer. After two terms, the company is liquidated and they share their dividends if they made a profit,” said Ndlovu.

“This programme is meant to give the students an insight into the complexities and rewards of operating a business.”

One of the most successful companies formed under this programme is Apex JA, created by St Faith Mission high school students in Manicaland.

The company, which was last year’s runner-up in the JA Africa finals, produced Apex Beta Fuel, a zero cost fuel that used locally available resources.

The company was also involved in clean-up campaigns and other social and community activities in the area. It had 15 members, who sold shares at 50 cents each and raised a start-up capital of $50 for the venture.

Another school to also successfully set up student-run companies is Msitheli secondary school in Bulawayo, where the students have organised themselves to form a T-shirt manufacturing company. At Girls College, the students run an events management business. Mzilikazi high school is also running a thriving bookshelf making venture.

One of the beneficiaries of JAZ training is Farai Gandawa, who described the experience as eye-opening and empowering.

“The JAZ lifeskills training course has introduced me to values that have helped me at my work. I was taught how to communicate with clients and how to work in a team. I was also taught how to interact with people of my age,” said Gandawa who is now employed as the Scripture Union’s finance officer.

Gandawa said he had recommended his friends and colleagues for JAZ programmes too, and called on the government to equip young people with entrepreneurial skills.

Another beneficiary, Beatrice Zano, said JAZ training had helped her win a job with a local non-governmental organisation, where she now works as a programmes officer.

“It’s thanks to JAZ that I’m where I am today. The lifeskills training courses really prepared me for joining the organisation. I’ve been able to develop better interpersonal and management skills,” she said. Zano suggested that, to supplement the school curriculum, the ministry of primary and secondary education should include business skills in the syllabus to help young people start their own businesses.

Last year, around 33,000 young people attended JAZ programmes in the four regions where the organisation operates – Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Kwekwe.