Be Entrepreneurial

Inspiring Grade 9-12 Students to Launch Businesses, Create Jobs and Drive the Canadian Economy

Securing traditional jobs is becoming increasingly difficult for youth. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for youth between the ages of 15 and 24 is more than double that of the overall Canadian unemployment rate.

In this challenging job market, entrepreneurs are the key to job growth. Many Canadian youth have the passion to launch their own businesses to create jobs for themselves and others. However, the skills that young people need to run businesses aren’t taught in most schools.

JA's Be Entrepreneurial program inspires grade 9-12 students to imagine a business venture while still in school.Volunteers from the local business community partner with classroom teachers to ignite students' entrepreneurial spirit and help them create business plans.

In this interactive, in-class program students will:

• •  Receive an introduction to entrepreneurship
  •  Understand why planning is key to starting a business
  •  Identify products or services they can take to market
  •  Determine their competitive advantage and define a target market
  •  Lay the foundation for a venture and develop a business strategy

By the end of Be Entrepreneurial, students will have created their own business plan. They will inspire them to see new opportunities, innovate and start businesses.  

For more information about Be Entrepreneurial, contact your local JA office.