YoungBiz and SIFE Join Forces to Educate Youth

You could call it a match made in heaven.thousands ofcollege students with the mission of "changing the world"with free enterprise education--and all the educational resourcesand tools for them to make it happen.

YoungBiz, a leading youth education organization, and StudentsIn Free Enterprise (SIFE) World Headquarters have joined forces toprovide youth educational camps and workshops on personal finance,business skills, investing and entrepreneurship. The collaborationmarries SIFE's 840 (and counting) teams on college campusesacross the nation with the potential to raise funds by hostingtop-notch youth education programs.

SIFE's mission to teach free enterprise, market economics,business and entrepreneurship is a perfect match with the YoungBizmission to empower youth with basic financial, entrepreneurial andbusiness skills. This strategic partnership will provide programsfor youth ages 11 to 17 throughout the nation, offering themreal-world experience in everything from setting financial goalsand managing money to creating stock portfolios and business plans.SIFE teams will benefit, too, from learning how to effectivelyteach youth and run profitable camps. This initiative will enableSIFE members to "learn by teaching"--to developleadership, teamwork and communication skills, and to pass theseskills along to a younger generation.

Using YoungBiz curricula that adhere to educational standards,SIFE teams will have the opportunity to host YoungBiz 'TrepCamp for young entrepreneurs ('trep is how teen entrepreneursdescribe themselves) or YoungBiz Better Investing camps. TheseYoungBiz camps have already received heavy media coverage andnational recognition for their innovative approach and fun learningenvironment. Through certified instructors, field trips, guestspeakers, activities and competitions, the YoungBiz method providescampers with real-world experience; each camper starts aninvestment portfolio or a business enterprise.

"Our work with SIFE has shown us what a resource thesetalented college students are for teaching others, especiallyyouth. Their eagerness to help youth develop solid business andfinancial skills will have a tremendous impact on our futureeconomy," said YoungBiz CEO Steve Morris.

Prior to this partnership, several SIFE teams throughout thecountry were already working with YoungBiz. In fact, the three-timenational champion SIFE team at Butte College in Oroville,California, incorporates YoungBiz curricula and turnkey programs inits flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative. The joint programswill begin this spring after SIFE teams have undergone trainingwith YoungBiz instructors. YoungBiz camps and workshops are alreadyscheduled in Atlanta; Houston; New York City; Orlando, Florida; SanFrancisco; and Washington, DC. With SIFE teams now on board,YoungBiz will soon post an expanded list of camps and workshops,including dates, at www.youngbiz.com. Don't you wish you had this whenyou were a kid?

Wendy Frick is marketing director and Misty Elliott isexecutive vice president of YoungBiz.