JAZ is premised on three main pillars, Work readiness, Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy. JA Zimbabwe offers the following programmes:
1. JA Company Program
The Junior Achievement Company Program provides students with a hands-on experience on how businesses function and the economic system. By organizing and operating small businesses young people learn how businesses function. After completing the JA Company program, participants will be able to develop and clarify their future employment aspirations; will have learnt, by experience, essential business concepts and skills with a weight on small business start up and operation. Over 16-18 weeks, students organize and operate an actual small business to gain first-hand experience in:
Organizing A Company: Students organize their company. They set company goals and personal goals, they explore opportunities and elect officers, students evaluate product/service options, carryout market research and select product/service and officers have LEADERSHIP TRAINING;
Developing A Business Plan: Students develop business plans for H.R., Marketing, Production and Finance. As well they sell shares to raise working capital, apply for charter/registration, conduct record keeping training, order materials, hold board meeting and open a bank account. Managing A Company: Students operate their companies they sell, advertise monitor records and schedule company meetings MID POINT EVALUATION is conducted;
Liquidating A Company: Students complete production and sales, close books, conduct final board meeting to determine dividends and charitable contributions, prepare annual report, hold AGM, distribute dividends/payroll/commissions/rental etc and finally close bank account for LIQUIDATION.
2. Job shadow
Students are introduced to potential careers through on-site, real workplace orientations. Students who would have undergone the JA Company Program are placed at real work places to experience and compare the actual work environment in a well established organization or business with the experience they underwent during their time in a JA student company. The key learning objectives of the program include developing basic problem solving skills, the introduction of students to various careers, elements of teamwork and roles of different people and departments in the production and service delivery chain, the relationship between education ,training and career progression, and an opportunity for interaction with professionals. Job Shadow further helps students to relate their career aspirations to what may be available or existing at these work places.
3. JA Success Skills & Entrepreneurship
This program was developed for out of school young people. This is ideal for the young people who have received vocational skills training elsewhere or young people with a business idea that can be natured as their skills and ideas may be turned into business rather than them hoping to get employment. The sessions include the following;
Business Ethics
Building Friendly Relationships
Effective Communication
Teamwork
Entrepreneurship& Identifying opportunities
Organising a JA Company
Record Keeping
At the end of the program there is a competition on the best company and the best company is given an award. The same may be done with the best managers.
4. Aflatoun
The Aflatoun program of social and financial education helps prepare children, ages 6 to 14 years, for autonomy and citizenship. The Aflatoun programme targets children aged 6-14, and provides them with financial and social skills as well as insights that not only will support them in dealing with adversities but also prepare them for better planning the (economic) life ahead of them. The latter enables them to become agents of change in their communities. The programme has the specific aim of balancing social education (rights, responsibilities, values) with financial education (saving, planning, budgeting, entrepreneurship).
5. Our Nation
This is a primary school program for grade 6 and 7 aimed at examining how businesses operate. Students’ role play business ownership, interview for jobs, and learn different methods of production while exploring various economic issues that affect business. Our Nation enhances students’ learning of the following concepts and skills:
Concepts– Advertising, Business plan, Careers, Competition, Corporations, Division of labor, Employees, Entrepreneur, Goods, Jobs, Manager, Markets, Marketing, Partnerships, Price, Products, Production, Productivity, Profit, Quality, Resources, Salary, Services, Sole proprietorship, Specialization, Stock, Stockholder
Skills–Assembling products, Brainstorming, Building self-esteem, Conceptualizing and designing advertisements, Critical thinking, Decision-making, Drawing conclusions, Following directions, Formulating a plan, Giving reports, Interviewing, Listening, Making observations, Role-playing, Teamwork.
6. It’s My Business
This program encompasses entrepreneurship curriculum for students in Form 1 and 2.The program emphasizes entrepreneurship while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading and writing skills. Students are encouraged to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skill that supports positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations. Enhances students’ learning of the following concepts and skills:
Concepts–Advertising, Apprentice, Auction, Auctioneer, Be Creative and Innovative, Believe in Yourself, Bid, Business, Business Plan, Civic Responsibility, Customer, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur Profile, Fill a Need, Know Your Customer and Product, Market, Marketing, Profit, Self-taught, Social Entrepreneur . Skills–Active-listening, Analyzing Information, Brainstorming, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Decision-making, Deductive Reasoning, Estimating, Following Directions, Group Work, Interpreting Information, Measuring, Money Management, Oral and Written Communication, Problem-solving,
Self-assessment.
