How many times have we asked our children what they would like to become when they grow older?
As the years roll by and they reach milestone after milestone, the implication of this question becomes even more critical as they reach school-leaving age.
The probability is that up to a certain age children are more likely to be influenced by their own parents, so taking on employment or a career is more to do with what they see and hear within their own home environment.
Similarly, it is also more likely that children born into family businesses are more inclined towards this choice. On the other hand, every parent would wish their child to have access to as many opportunities as possible.
Subsequently having the right skills to survive in a working world is what we, as parents, aspire for our children. In the ever-increasing scenario where a job is not a guaranteed for life, it is a good ace to have up one’s sleeve.
So how can this mould be broken and students encouraged to experience a business journey?
Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Malta, or Young Enterprise, as is it fondly known, has for the past 27 years been providing students with a practical programme no other school programme offers.
Students at the tender age of 15 are given the opportunity to start up a mini-business, learning how to organise themselves in a working team, taking on an idea and turning it into reality.
The students learn how to deal with suppliers and present their product or service to the market, acquiring customer service skills in the process. They learn how to manage their own finances while understanding procedures of allocating and paying out dividends as the case may be. Through this learning-by-doing method, students gain a diverse number of entrepreneurial and employability skills that are particularly significant for their future and well appreciated by employers too.
Over the past years the organisation has managed to reach more than 6,000 students. A few of them are in politics, others in various professions, while a good number have moved forward and set up their own business, drawing on earlier HSBC Company Programme experiences and believing enough in themselves to take the risk and move closer to their goals.
Students gain a diverse number of entrepreneurial and employability skills
O level students will soon be sitting for exams and results will help them move into their post-secondary years. The programme is offered to first-year sixth form students as well as to Mcast students. Anyone aged 15 and older can apply and because entrepreneurship is considered to be one of the most important skills for one’s future, students should be encouraged to participate.
Additionally, as part of the company programme journey, students may acquire the Entrepreneurial Skills Pass, an internationally recognised certification in entrepreneurship backed by the European Commission and Europe’s top employers.
This year’s company programme features 13 participating teams made up of students from St Aloysius College, De La Salle College, Mcast, Junior College, St Martin’s College, St Edward’s College, Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary and Verdala International.
These teams will be ending their year of company programme by participating in the finals award ceremony. At this event, each team will be giving a presentation, talking about its achievements and successes during the year and their learning process.
A number of signature awards will be given and the winning company of the year team will be announced on the night. This team will represent Malta at the European finals in Berlin in July.
The organisation would like to invite fifth form students and educators to attend. They can watch the students in action and understand why the Young Enterprise experience is so special.
The HSBC Company of the Year finals award night will be held on Saturday from 4.30 to 9pm at Hilton Malta, Portomaso.
Those interested can e-mail info@youngenterprise.org.mt, call 2124 4991 or leave a comment on https://www.facebook.com/youngenterprisemalta .