Volunteer Opportunities

Junior Achievement of Michiana Needs YOU!!!!

A Rewarding Experience...

       Junior Achievement is an in-school economic education program for students. It promotes Work Readiness, Entrepreneurship. and Financial LIteracy -- teaching kids how business works while emphasizing importance of staying in school. Not just an after-school program for high schoolers anymore, JA has an age-appropriate level for all classrooms, K - 12, and that's where YOU come in.

       JA's success is due directly to the high quality of our volunteers and their willingness to help students develop the basic tools to e wise consumers, CEO's, and/or dedicated and productive employees as adults, as well as our community's future entrepreneurs.

       Volunteers from the business community, parents, college students, and retirees -- just like you -- go into classrooms like the one pictured above. We train you and supply all the materials needed for the class, but YOUR participation is vital for the personal connection you give to the children, using your own experiences to make economic concepts relevant. Consultants also serve as role models to the students. Volunteering for JA is a great way for you to "give back" to the community while enriching the lives of tomorrow's consumers and workforce.

       Junior Achievement supplies a program kit, containing everything you'll need for your lessons including hand-outs, activity materials, even award certificates; a lesson guide that takes you step-by-step through the entire program; and training on how to use the materials and the lesson guide, how to talk to the kids, etc. You supply your time, experience, and enthusiasm!

       JA will give you a whole new kind of job satisfaction. Many of our consultants go back to work after a class feeling re-energized and refreshed. Most of our consultants come back to do the program again, and some even do multiple programs in one school year! You get to share your life experiences with kids, refine your presentation skills, interact with a unique audience, practice time management, and give back to the community, all while making a difference in the lives of our kids. Plus, you'll have fun doing it!

       Your time committment will vary with the level of the program you choose. Most of our consultants spend at least one hour a week before they meet with their classes preparing for the presentation, and in-class presentation time of:

	ELEMENTARY:  One (1) hour a week for six weeks. Five of these are classroom presentations. The consultant and teacher together determine the day of the week and the time of day. The optional 6th week is a job site visit to the volunteer's place of work or to another local business, if possible.
	JR/SR HIGH:  One (1) hour a week for five - 7 weeks.

       Comments from the students themselves prove that JA can be an important influence in their lives and attitudes: many have stated that JA not only taught them what it takes to find and keep a job, but also exactly how much it costs to live in today's society, and the difference between having a job and having a career. Others have stated that they have learned important lessons about themselves from JA, and that their JA experience has kept them from making some very bad life decisions.

       Browse the rest of our website for more information on program details, volunteer commitments, and JA from the student perspective, (see the Site Guide for a list of all links) then call us today at 269-983-7579, email us at info@michianaja.org , or fill out the form using the button below to put YOURSELF into the picture!

Put YOURSELF in the Picture!