Charleston Collegiate School and YEScarolina Join Forces

Local private school and entrepreneurship nonprofit partner to increase their reach in entrepreneurship education

John’s Island - Charleston Collegiate School and YEScarolina (Youth Entrepreneurship South Carolina) have partnered to provide entrepreneurship and financial independence education to the people of the Sea Islands. 

The partnership between Charleston Collegiate and YEScarolina, which aims to provide Entrepreneurship Training for children and adults on John’s and Wadmalaw Islands, is a first step in what is expected to grow into an area-wide partnership between the two organizations.

 Founder and executive director of YEScarolina, Jimmy Bailey, says:

 “Having grown up on John’s Island and being a current homeowner on Wadmalaw Island, I know firsthand some often needs of these two Sea Islands.  Entrepreneurship is a tool for the unemployed and under employed.  Entrepreneurship education also teaches our youth real life skills which would enable them to take the first steps toward financial independence.  Our challenge has been to secure a home base allowing us to provide entrepreneurship education to more people.  Charleston Collegiate and their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship provides a perfect opportunity for a partnership to enable both of our organizations to touch more lives.  This partnership will, in turn, also serve as a model for other communities to adopt.” 

Collegiate’s Entrepreneurship Classes, which are based on the teaching objectives/principles of YEScarolina and program partner Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, have been in place for three years as part of the school’s Financial Literacy Curriculum. 

Head of School, Hacker Burr, says:

“Entrepreneurship training changes lives and expands horizons.  We have seen, first hand, the benefits of this training and the power of financial literacy.  The result is genuine problem solving skills for any/all participants in the course. As a school, we are excited to be in a position to not only enhance the experience of our own students, but to provide something so essential to the community, and serve the people of the Sea Islands in such a dynamic and promising endeavor.”

About YEScarolina:  Youth Entrepreneurship South Carolina is the only organization in the State of South Carolina dedicated to teaching the principles of entrepreneurship and free enterprise.  For more information on YEScarolina, visit: www.yescarolina.com

About Charleston Collegiate School: Charleston Collegiate is a college preparatory school on John’s Island, serving students in grades PreK-12.  The school prides itself on delivering an engaging liberal arts curriculum (infused with a strong Financial Literacy Program) to a genuinely diverse student population.

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