BILLINGS - Junior Achievement is back in the Billings school district and is looking for volunteers.
"What we're going to talk about today is social entrepreneurship, anybody remember what that is," asked Glenn French, volunteer for Junior Achievement.
French is also a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Billings.
Junior Achievement is a community program that puts business leaders into the classroom to help the school district teach financial literacy to students.
"An entrepreneur in general is somebody who wants to start a business," said French to a students at Castle Rock Middle School. "A social entrepreneur is somebody who wants to fill a need in a community."
Junior Achievement was started in 1919. It faded away locally in recent years, but it is making a return this year with about a dozen volunteers in 21 classrooms.
The six-week program is taught once a week during the World of Work period for eighth graders, and French said they hope to be in the high schools next year.
"You know if we had people who started more businesses in billings, who just know about business better they could be a better employee for their employers, or if they know about economics in general, we could keep from going into foreclosure, recently we've had these problems, or going into bankruptcy or needing a bailout," said French. "We don't need that when we have the tools and the knowledge to take care of ourselves, that's what's great about this program."
A poster of the four characteristics of an entrepreneur hangs in the front of the classroom: fill a need, know your customer and product, be creative and motivated, and believe in yourself. It is advice that Jake Buffington, is taking to heart.
"I want to open my own business, a restaurant in the future," said Jake, a Castle Rock eighth grader.
Mister Buffington already has a name and menu for his place, "Probably Buffs, and then just like a mix of stuff like sandwiches and soup."
French said he commits about an hour-and-a-half a week volunteering for Junior Achievement.
Lesson plans are taught through a manual.
He said they need volunteers.
If interested you can give him a call at his work, the number is 248-2610.
Junior Achievement is not funded by the school district.
French said donations from individuals and businesses are welcomed and needed.