Junior Achievement:
Seedbanks for Leaders of the 21st Century

"Empresarios Juveniles" is the twin partner of the Junior Achievement Program. For the last 25 years the organization, based in the USA, has been developing management skills among students, through 23 different training programs in 32 countries worldwide. In Guatemala, two of those programs, Junior Companies and Management Basics have benefited more than seven thousand students in elementary and high school, since 1988.

Sixth grade students learn management basics to be able to organize and lead a business. They get involved in the production , marketing, and sales process, while Junior Companies are built by students who are finishing high school. They gather in groups of 20, to create, develop and sell all their products in a four month period, while managing their own bussines.

In Guatemala, 40 % of the population is young and can take advantage of this program created under the supervision of the Technological Foundation (FUNTEC, for its abreviation in Spanish) and sponsored by private enterprises. Although it is a program for students, participants say it should not be considered as one more regular school subject, nor as a game, but rather as a serious training, to start a private business, lead by who will be the managers of the next century.