Students from Ponoka Outreach High School in Alberta are the first students in Canada to benefit from the creation of the BDC's Aboriginal Youth Lending Circle (AYLC) to support youth entrepreneurship in high schools. The program aims to develop entrepreneurial skills while allowing students access to actual financing of up to $1,000 a project for their business plan.
"To access actual financing will allow students with a viable business idea to experience and develop real, successful small businesses, said Jim Richardson, National Director, Aboriginal Banking Unit at BDC. "Students learned about basic business principles in the past, but this initiative allows them to test their knowledge in real-life situations."
Under the AYLC program, Ponoka High School will also offer students training on entrepreneurship and business and will cover such topics as HR, financial planning, marketing and problem resolution. The Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship course features interactive business planning resources and access to mentors online using BDC's E-Spirit distance learning modules.
"Our students show tremendous business potential and enjoy learning about entrepreneurship very much, stated Lawrence Hrycan, Principal of Ponoka Outreach High School. To offer them funding from BDC is one more way in which we can help them succeed."
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