DAS KAPITAL

Each week, for 3 hours one night, I meet with a bunch of high school students. These kids get together to run their own small for-profit company, and me and a group of other business people act as advisors to these kids.

By running their own business, these kids are learning first hand what business is really all about. It's a great practical component because textbook learning is just that - it's a much better way to learn by doing. It's like our own Apprentice reality series.

The kids do everything a real business would. They elect an executive, brainstorm product ideas and choose a product, conduct market research, they source supplies, manufacture then market and sell the product. Eventually, at the end of the 18 weeks or so, they liquidate the company and pay out their shareholders (themselves).

These kids are doing more than just learning about business. By taking part in this, they are learning skills that are essential to them for the real world too - communication, leadership, teamwork, goal setting.

What do I do? Well I act as an advisor. Most of these kids are in Grade 9 and none of them have ever done this program before. I'm part of a group of advisors and we guide them along the way - use our experiences in business, and in my case from having volunteered with this program previously. We give them ideas for products, where to find the products and where they can sell it. We act as role models and resources for these kids.

Why do I do this? I find this to be very rewarding. I'm helping the next generation of business leaders, the future Bill Gates and Michael Dells of the world. These are the kids that are going to be captains of industry. Kids involved in Junior Achievement programs are more likely to go on to post-secondary education. So I guess I'm doing my part to keep kids out of trouble, and helping them make a future for themselves.

So I challenge those who are reading this to find some sort of cause that they think is worthwhile and donate your time, or your money, and help make this world a better place.