The Business Leadership Project

The incidence of HIV infection decreases greatly when a girl attends secondary school
The incidence of HIV infection decreases greatly when a girl attends secondary school
In Zimbabwe today less than 40% of the children will advance beyond primary school. The Business Leadership Project addresses the problems created by this cruel reality at primary level. The goals of the project are to increase:

  • comprehension of math
  • access to secondary school.
  • entrepreneurial and basic small business skills

The Business Leadership Education project combines Internal Savings & Lending with formal education in Zimbabwe. The BTG school math clubs are the starting point. Entrepreneurial skills and mathematics concepts are combined and applied. IS&L savings club activities are introduced and put into practice.

Young entrepreneurs sell produce after school.
Young entrepreneurs sell produce after school.

The 3 year project will improve math comprehension in primary schools in rural Zimbabwe. At Grade 3 two specific competencies, as identified by teachers, will be addressed. In grade 7 students will form internal savings & lending (ISL) clubs and participate in income generating activities to learn practical mathematics applications. Funds applied for secondary school will be matched by ASAP with a cap of USD 150/year per student.

Children savings clubs earn for secondary school fees. ASAP matches funds saved for education
Children savings clubs earn for secondary school fees. ASAP matches funds saved for education

In 2007 ASAP piloted the Business Leadership Education concept using unrestricted funds. Students were introduced to the IS&L methodology and encouraged to form savings clubs. In less than 6 months 328 children had formed 46 savings clubs in 8 schools. Loans amounting to Z$35,764,306 had already been issued and the demand for the project was increasing when funds were exhausted.

ASAP looks forward to launching the new Business Leadership Project (BLP) in 2010.