Skills for Kids

Abstract

Education is one of the most critical instruments necessary to create sustainable growth in developing countries. A properly educated population has the potential to grow into a highly productive adult labour force that possesses the capability and impetus to contribute to a robust economy. Many developing countries rightly foster programs that promote basic education in schools, but often, the importance of practical life skills and entrepreneurial concepts is ignored. Significant anecdotal and empirical evidence shows that curricula that combine these practical skills with theoretical knowledge allow for a substantial increase in the employability of a young population. Furthermore, employers are increasingly cognizant of the importance of life skills in a globalized environment and employees who possess these skills often possess an edge over the job competition. The principle objective of the Joint Social Action Project was to address these issues by creating a versatile and easy-to-implement curriculum that taught practical life skills, based on concepts of entrepreneurship, to middle school children. The team found that children within this age group were ideal beneficiaries - they were old enough to assimilate these concepts with minimal supervision and young enough to carry this learning through high school and as young adults.