Introduction
Picture the scene – curious school students cross-examining McDonald’s team members about their jobs, their education and their career prospects. It may sound like a job interview, but it’s actually the Junior Achievement Programme in operation.
When McDonald’s wanted to find a constructive way to help young people understand business and economics, we found that the Junior Achievement Programme was the best way to get involved.
McDonald’s and the Junior Achievement Programme
The junior Achievement Programme uses the experiences of local business leaders to help young people understand the economics of life and how the world works.
As a partner of the Junior Achievement Programme in Ireland, McDonald’s employees, managers and owner operators ("franchisees") visit schools and hold classes teaching enterprise skills and promoting the value of education.
Junior Achievement Programme in Ireland
The Junior Achievement Programme is part of a worldwide organisation reaching out to 7 million young people each year. It’s been operating in Ireland since 1995 and it’s been a big success story.
Schools all around the country are eager to give their students the benefit of some real life experience and the Programme has built successful partnerships with 150 leading Irish organisations including McDonald’s.
How does the Junior Achievement Programme work?
The Programmes begin at primary school level and continue through to secondary school, right up to age 18.
They help prepare young people for the world by:
- Showing how individuals, businesses and communities contribute to our economy
- Discussing the economic benefits of an education
- Giving valuable advice about careers and financial management
All Junior Achievement programmes are taught by business volunteers who are recruited from supporting organisations, such as McDonald’s and are fully trained before they begin the programme.