Junior Achievement & Nokia team up for Enterprise Without Borders (EWB)

By: Daniel Nonor
Junior Achievement (JA) of Ghana, in partnership with Nokia, is delivering a cross-border international entrepreneurship program with students in senior high schools. Junior Achievement Ghana is part of only two countries selected in Africa for the program due to its significant contribution to the growth and impact of entrepreneurship education for young people.

The purpose of the programme is to give students running mini-companies the opportunity to create cross-border international partnerships.

Through a website, teachers and schools will register for participation and students can upload their company profiles and enter an entrepreneurial 'dating game'. The aim is for students to share learning and business ideas, have the opportunity to sell each other's products in other markets, possibly reduce costs by sourcing components in other countries and also encouraging visits between markets.

'Nokia is very excited to be part of this program,' says Kulsoom Ally, Head of Corporate Social Investment for Middle East Africa. 'Our CSI approach is to use mobile technology to improve education and learning. This includes life skills and youth development to which this program aligns perfectly'.

Nokia will further be involved with the program through its employees who are able to volunteer to serve as mentors for the students. The goal for 2010 is to impact more than 200 students with the support and mentorship of employees of Nokia.

Twelve schools from five regions (Central, Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta and Upper East) have already registered on the portal and displayed their products and services. The participating schools have also begun possible joint-venture negotiations with their counterparts in Europe and United States.

'We are confident that this programme will be another success and expect that by the end of the program participating students from across Ghana will have gained invaluable business experience, new contacts and practical skills for building successful businesses in the future' says Mr Jefferson Agbai, Country Representative for Junior Achievement Ghana, 'It is through the generous support of businesses like Nokia that we can have an impact on students in our community.'

Participating schools include: SOS International College, Tema Holy Trinity SHS, Jamestown (High Street) Accra Academy, Bubuashie, Faith Christian Academy Vocational Institute, Abelenkpe, Pope John's Secondary School, Koforidua, Keta Secondary School, Keta, Mfantsipim SHS, Mfantsiman Girls, Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS, St. Augustine's College and Adisadel College, all in Cape Coast, and Zuarungu Senior High School, Bolgatanga.