April 16, 2010
Junior Achievement program
Hey kids, how about a career in construction?
Kids these days may not realize the value of a career in construction, but it could be the best path forward for budding entrepreneurs and future business leaders.
That’s the message Toronto Construction Association (TCA) president and CEO John Mollenhauer delivered to a Grade 8 class at Crosby Heights Public School in Richmond Hill on Wednesday.
Mollenhauer was there to lead kids through the Junior Achievement of Central Ontario’s Economics for Success program, a one-day course that helps students recognize the advantages of being financially responsible and how to plan for their life and goals – including, the TCA hopes, a possible career in construction.
“From the TCA perspective, and for the benefit of our members and our industry, we would love to see more children at all ages better appreciate the broader construction industry as a great career choice,” Mollenhauer said.
“The population is aging and we’re in an enormous growth sector – outpacing the economy by a good margin. So the sense of urgency for finding people to come into our industry grows each year.”
The Economics for Success program aims to assist students in understanding career and training options as well as to educate them on the need for personal financial management strategies and the importance of goal setting.
More than 100 volunteers from the Toronto Construction Association helped deliver the one-day program in classrooms across central Ontario on April 14.
At Crosby Heights, Mollenhauer led students through a series of exercises, including one in which the kids worked in groups to determine the value of items listed on a grocery-store flyer.
As per his mission, the TCA chief also talked to students about the appeal of a career in construction.
“I think we need to do a better job in the awareness area of letting kids know how many career choices within the industry there are,” Mollenhauer said in an interview.
“If a child is good at math they might make a great estimator ... if a child is particularly creative, they might make a great interior decorator or an architect. For kids who really desperately want to work outdoors, perhaps they should consider a skilled trade.
“We want to help them better understand the alternatives, better understand the process that allows them to get there,” Mollenhauer added.
“And that of course aligns with the Junior Achievement agenda, which is to make sure they understand the great value of staying in school.”
For more information about Junior Achievement, visit jacentralontario.org
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