Absa, South Africa's largest retail bank, today announced it will invest R1 million in an initiative with the Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereeniging (ATKV) and Yo TV to help kids become entrepreneurs.
Dubbed Tomorrow's Captains, and targeted at 4 200 primary schools in all nine provinces, the unique entrepreneurial-development programme aims to shape tomorrow's business owners and captains of commerce and industry.
We all know unemployment is an enormous problem in our country, says Absa executive director, Venete Klein, and the only way many people will ever achieve their dreams will be by starting their own businesses.
It has long been a policy of ours to help grow and develop small business in South Africa and this is just another step along that road.
The Tomorrow's Captains initiative will continue to be managed by the ATKV.
The programme is designed to help instil a culture of leadership and to develop entrepreneurial skills and thinking in younger kids, says ATKV Project Manager, Gerrie Lemmer.
Schools and pupils get the opportunity to formulate, present and execute business plans which are scrutinised by a panel of judges. The most successful entrepreneurs will go through to the finals in Johannesburg where they will be honoured at a glittering gala event.
We believe our contribution is a wise investment in South Africa (Pty) Ltd that, in a few years, will produce exceptional dividends, Klein says.
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