One of the innovations introduced by Dean Jake Jacobs of the Wits Business School was the Centre for Developing Business (CDB), with Steven Black at the helm. Black learnt of Junior Achievement (JA) in the USA, and the program was introduced to South Africa under the auspices of the CDB in 1979.

JA was instituted in the USA in 1919 with the aim of bringing together diverse groups of students in order to teach business and life skills. The newly formed Junior Achievement South Africa (JA South Africa) began to implement cutting-edge innovations to address the specific and unique needs of South African students.

In 1980, the original ‘Mini Enterprise program’ (Now known as Company Program) was re-designed to include an educational component, focusing on reflection of the skills learnt, as opposed to the skills alone. JA South Africa actively recruited students from schools around the country to participate in the MEP, facilitating contact between groups of children from all races who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to interact in a social and educational environment.

Support for the program initially came from the corporate sector and the Urban Foundation. The corporate sector provided sponsorship and advisors for the program, while the Urban Foundation provided funding as well as lobbied the government for political change and facilitated access to new donors. In just 11 weeks, participants on the flagship MEP(Company Program) were advised on how to generate ideas for a product or service, plan a sales and marketing strategy, implement all financial transactions, and wind up the business – skills which are still taught to today’s MEP (Company program) students.

As JA South Africa grew, with assistance from Barloworld and SAB, it moved away from Wits University and set up a Section 21 company. Additional support was provided through significant funding from USAID. The introduction of the ‘Sullivan Code’ meant an increase in both foreign donations and advisors, with some companies making it mandatory for their fast-track managers to spend time advising on the MEP(Company Program). Advisors still gain valuable insights during their time in the program, as they develop their capacity to motivate, advise, and influence thinking.

Key learnings for the students include developing an ability to work with others in a business-like manner and context, looking at the world in an entrepreneurial way, awareness of business opportunities, confidence to challenge conventional wisdom, and gaining a greater understanding of life outside of the confines of the school context.

2001 saw the dawn of a new era at JA South Africa, with admittance to the global network of the more than 100 countries, JA organizations under the umbrella of JA Inc. (now JA Worldwide) in the USA. This relationship allows for an exchange of ideas and concepts while maintaining the entrepreneurial flair that epitomises the spirit of JA South Africa.

Over time, JA South Africa’s program offerings expanded to include Primary School (More than Money Program), High School (My Money Business, Be Entrepreneurial, Company Plus Program), and out-of-school ( Youth Enterprise Development, Enterprise Accelerator, and Social Equity Programs)Programs. With support from the corporate sector, NGOs, schools, and individuals, JA South Africa continues to grow and develop, constantly introducing innovative and relevant programs to foster a greater spirit of social understanding and business knowledge amongst the youth of South Africa.