Financial literacy education that helps Youthrive!
Financial and entrepreneurial literacy is the best way to prevent inter-generational poverty while helping youth and their communities thrive. We make it engaging and fun to learn!
What is Youthrive?
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Experiential Learning
Youthrive is a 10-week experiential mentorship program that teaches secondary students how to create their very own micro-businesses! During this student-led, inquiry-based, placed-based and project-based activity, students create and build a business, create financials, market and sell their product, develop a fun elevator pitch, and present their company to judges for prizes. The year culminates with the YouthX competition, a province-wide exhibition of all they’ve accomplished!
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Financial Literacy
The Youthrive program focuses on three main pillars: financial literacy, environmental sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Youthrive teaches financial literacy in a practical manner, demonstrating the importance of budgeting, saving, and reinvesting profits, all while creating their own company. Not only does this help prevent generational poverty, it creates a better future for our youth, so they can “thrive”. Did we mention the activity is mentored virtually by post-secondary students from the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business.
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Ontario Curricula-Linked
During the Youthrive activity, students are exposed to core learning objectives from Ontario’s secondary business studies curriculum. Business, digital literacy, financial literacy, ethical decision-making and communication skills are all part of the 10-week program. Through a gamified process, students present their work to peers and judges, allowing students to actively apply and demonstrate skills of responsibility, organization, complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, judgement, decision-making, independent work, collaboration and initiative.
Why Choose Youthrive?
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All of our curriculum resources are designed for and directly aligned with the Ontario government's expectations and learning objectives for students (specifically the Business Studies curricula for Grades 9-12). This allows all YouThrive teachers to use our resources as effective teaching and learning resources without having to adjust learning objectives. Youthrive is the perfect companion for high school Introduction to Business (BBI1O, BBI2O), Entrepreneurship (BDI3C, BDP3O, BDV4C) Marketing (BMI3C, BMX3E) and Business Leadership (BOH4M, BOG4E) classes!
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Each year, our program is comprised of a team of University of Windsor students with unique backgrounds and skill sets. Sponsored by the Odette School of Business, this post-secondary mentorship team virtually guides students through the YouThrive interactive program, and facilities the creation of youth businesses using digital communication platforms. This “youth-to-youth learning” is often identified by teachers as our most valuable feature and an important component of high school students’ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
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Entrepreneurs accelerate economic growth! By creating new products and services, they stimulate new employment that creates a multiplier effect, stimulating our economy. Over the past decade, we have facilitated over 1000 student-run businesses, providing students with real-life experiences to supplement their in-class learning and create future entrepreneurial and career-related acumen. Ultimately YouThrive allows students to follow their passions and create businesses they care about, stimulating more than just the economy, but also self-confidence, self-reliance and personal aptitude.
YouthX!
Competition
YouthX! Competition
YouthX is a province-wide virtual competition and exhibition hosted by the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Students submit their project pitch videos online and regional finalists compete against other high schools in their region and between regions.
Ms. Mulvey
“The Youthrive program has been such an enriching experience for my students, allowing them to experience authentic applications of what we are learning in class. Several of my students have gone on to entrepreneurial ventures in their post-secondary and adult lives, and when I see them, they always mention the program as one of their favourite high school experiences.”
Teacher Testimonials
2013 - Present
Mr. Leonardi
“The Youthrive program has become an integral part of my curriculum and pedagogy for the past decade. As I began moving towards a project-based learning environment for the entrepreneurship class, I was introduced to Youthrive by my Department Head. I quickly embraced the Youthrive program as it was a perfect fit for the class. Students enjoyed watching episodes of Dragon’s Den but they never realized it could be brought into the classroom. The professional mentors (many former students of mine) were always engaging and helpful with the students. Many amazing products and ideas came through our school via the Youthrive Program. I am proud to say that [School Name] has had a tradition of sending high-quality entrepreneurs to YouthX.
Moreover, the Youthrive curriculum evolved over the years focusing not only on entrepreneurship and the 4 P’s of Marketing. The introduction of becoming social entrepreneurs with a focus on the 4 R’s and the United Nations Sustainability Goals now has become a staple in my class.
Lastly, the Youthrive Program always offered our students important tools in the business world. These included the SWOT analysis, the Business Model Canvas, Pitch and Presentation skills, communication and collaboration skills, networking, and so much more.”
2013 - Present
Financial literacy… beyond borders!
Our mission is to build a platform that virtually stretches across Ontario, engaging secondary students in entrepreneurial activities that teach financial literacy, providing workforce and enterprise training that creates options and opportunity that lasts a lifetime!
