Finance Students Give Back to the Community Through Mentorship Programme

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A student mentorship programme aimed at providing pupils from underprivileged KwaZulu-Natal high school with financial literacy is underway following a partnership between UKZN’s  School of Accounting, Economics and Finance and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).  

The Initiative, championed by finance academics, Dr Mabutho Sibanda and Ms Faeezah Peerbhai, will see finance students visit the schools to enlighten  pupils on markets and stock   investing which they need to know about in order to participate in the JSE Investment Challenge. 

The JSE Investment Challenge is a national financial literacy competition which provides South African high school pupils and university students with opportunities to explore the world of investing by trading JSE-listed shares through a virtual portfolio.

The JSE has chosen 10 Finance students from the Finance discipline to be mentors and each one has adopted a school which they travel to  regularly to provide training and advice to   the students.

To ensure that the mentors are adequately equipped for this task, JSE members  Mr Ralph Stein and Mr Idris Seedat recently held a training session for them on how the JSE works and investing in general.

‘The JSE Investment Challenge aims to increase financial literacy among the South African youth therefore securing them a better future,’ said Seedat.

“We would like to express our gratitude to UKZN for being imperative role partners in the realisation of this aim by making the Challenge available to all their students. As we forge ahead we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Peerbhai said the initiative would not only benefit the community but would also teach the Finance students the value of enriching others.

‘The mentorship programme will allow students within the Discipline to assist schools by providing valuable training and information that would not have otherwise been available. This is a good experience for students as it allows them to participate in a project that will enhance social awareness, and give back to the community,’ she said.

‘This will also hopefully entice the school participants to further their studies and pursue a degree in Finance within the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance.’

Thandiwe Jumo