In Zimbabwe today less than 40% of the children will advance beyond primary school. The Youth Entrepreneurship 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 Youth Entrepreneurship Project combines Village 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. VS&L savings club activities are introduced and put into practice.

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 VS&L savings clubs and participate in income generating activities to learn practical mathematics applications.

In 2007 ASAP piloted the Youth Entrepreneurship Project concept using unrestricted funds. Students were introduced to the VS&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 Youth Entrepreneurship Project in 2013.