YOUTH ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

9 months / 3 hrs / week

This is a 20 session incubator style programme for out of school unemployed youth between the ages of 18 – 35, facilitated over three months, during which students are required to start up and run a sustainable business.

JA DEEP

JA DEEP, JA Africa's first program offering in its virtual skills lab, is an online-based interactive entrepreneurship curriculum, created specifically for young African learners, including those who live in countries or go to schools where JA is not present. JA DEEP builds on JA’s existing entrepreneurship programs (JA Company Program and JA ITS TYME) in an online format that teaches the same principles in an engaging and fun way.

The program allows participants the opportunity to experience the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship by walking them through how to start and operate a business that fills a need or solves a problem in their communities. Participants put theory into practice from idea generation, product development, capitalization of the venture, marketing and sales strategies and financial reporting, while being supported with digital or in-person mentorship from a JA corporate volunteer.

SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM

The Social Equity Program, an initiative by JA Africa and Z Zurich Foundation, is a cross-cutting entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness program for underserved young people aged 16-25 who might not be in education, entrepreneurship, or training. This program provides hands-on experiences and mentoring for starting and managing social enterprises or businesses that solve local community problems. The youth participating in this program collaborate on bringing change to themselves and their communities.

It consists of leadership and entrepreneurship boot camps (4 days), completion of JA DEEP, development of social impact projects and business pitch competitions where the winners win seed funding and additional mentoring for their businesses. Skills gained include digital skills, design thinking, project management, financial accounting, and advocacy skills to drive systemic change.