November 10, 2007
Through Junior Achievement (JA), the group of students made a business plan, produced cookbooks with recipes they had found, and are now selling the cookbooks for one year, after which they liquidate the company.
“It (JA) helps participants learn about jobs and what it’s like in the working world. It also teaches them responsibility and accountability,” says Dave Burgess, a JA volunteer.
Junior Achievement of Sarnia Lambton targets students to participate and create their own business. The program helps students learn how to manage their own business and to learn skills for the workforce.
Every week for 23 weeks, students meet with business consultants to learn about developing a business plan and organizing, managing and liquidating a company.
Students are expected to create a product in a group. While doing this, they will learn how to raise capital through shares, prepare a business plan and financial statement, declare and distribute dividends, issue shareholder reports, produce a product, develop marketing and sales strategies and liquidate the company.
The program is youth-driven, making the involved students develop ideas and learn from their mistakes. Approximately 60 students participate per year, gaining business and employability skills.
The program has been a large benefit to the rural society since beginning in 1969 as it gives students valuable skills and job experience. Through it, students also discover job opportunities in their own community.
One participant, who was in JA for 4 years, said that “JA is a great life-changing experience.”
The Sarnia Lambton branch of the Community Futures Development Corporation (SLBDC) has been funding JA since 2003. The SLBDC has also helped JA by holding an annual fundraising barbeque on Canada Day, providing the SLBDC facilities for weekly meetings and volunteer training sessions, and serving as JA volunteers for the past 5 years.
Despite the work that JA members do between school and business, they take the opportunity to interact with the public at events like at the Canada Day barbecue.
February has been named JA month, during which participants spend one weekend at the Lambton Mall, selling their goods. This year, the cookbooks not only sold out, but 22 additional orders came in to be sent out when ready. They also have a program sponsors and volunteer recognition night in February.
By the end of February, JA has begun running a four week Business Basics Program for Grade 5 students and The Economics of Staying in School Program for Grade 8 students.
These programs help students gain an understanding of the skills that are needed for running a business, and show students the benefits of staying in school.
“Junior Achievement teaches them (participants) similarities and also differences between school and work,” says Burgess.
All of the programs offered by JA are free of charge, due to funding from local businesses and 98% of the JA workforce being volunteers.