AID grant no. AOT-0463-G-00-2185-00 to Junior Achievement International to implement pilot programs in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and a third southern African country

JAI will implement the project, known as the Youth Enterprise Initiative, in cooperation with the Duke of Edinburgh"s London-based Award International Association (AIA). The project will include efforts under JAI"s four main programs: (1) business basics, which introduces basic concepts of business organization, production, management, and marketing, in grades 4-6; (2) project business, which covers the private enterprise system, the role of entrepreneurs, the range of professional careers, and aspects of the national and global economy, in grades 7-9; (3) applied economics, which teaches the application of business principles to real life business situations in grades 10-12; and (4) JA Company, JAI"s original program, which provides high school students the opportunity to organize a corporation under the guidance of volunteers from the local business community. In implementing the project, which aims at reaching 5,400 young people over a 2-year period, JAI will be assisted by the Peace Corps, as well as by established volunteer networks within the school systems, youth NGOs, the business community, and appropriate ministries of the National Award Programs in Africa. If the project succeeds, a comprehensive plan for its expansion will be developed.