Africa is brimming with entrepreneurial potential. Sometimes, it takes a quality entrepreneurship program to unlock the potential of its youth. Here are a few of the best.
By Craig Falck for Africa Report.
Photograph: © Paulo Cruz | Dreamstime.com
The Junior Achievement South Africa programme gives young entrepreneurs a leg up to become the businesspeople of tomorrow. They have three programmes:
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The Enterprise Dynamic Programme for school-going entrepreneurs: Games, activities and projects are taught by teachers.
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The Mini-Enterprise Programme gives older learners business and life skills for their future careers.
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The Business Establishment and Sustainability Programme assists young unemployed people who haven’t finished school to set up small-to-medium-sized enterprises. It shows them how to draw up a business plan, access credit and enter the market.
Another strong young entrepreneur-assisting programme is the National Youth Development Agency, which generates job opportunities and develops, funds and supports entrepreneurship programmes. Focus is given to entrepreneurs between 14 and 35 who come from low-income households and entrepreneurs with disabilities. The government agency offers a number of programmes to young business minds, including SME funding and micro-finance and business consulting services.
The Young Entrepreneurs Program is an African support enterprise that assists entrepreneurs from all over Africa to kick-start their business careers. The programme’s main tool is an education exchange programme, where select candidates are sent to the USA as business interns. This aims to teach the entrepreneurs how to think smart in the cutthroat world of business and management.
Agencies help Africa’s young entrepreneurs to enter the business world. Only a select few make the cut. Plan right, do your research and get all the assistance you’ll ever need.
