Aspiring girl bosses from Northland Boys and Girls Club test leadership skills at Parkville Farmers Market – KSHB 41 Kansas City

Report on the “Start-up Squad” Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Program Overview

An initiative titled the “Start-up Squad” was conducted over the summer by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City’s Northland Unit. The program provided entrepreneurial training to a group of girls aged 9 to 12, culminating in a practical application of their skills at the Parkville Farmers Market.

• Organizers: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City’s Northland Unit, with leadership from the Keen Wealth Foundation.
• Target Demographic: Girls aged 9 to 12.
• Duration: 10 weeks.
• Primary Objective: To empower young girls with foundational business and entrepreneurial skills, directly contributing to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Curriculum and Skill Development

The 10-week program provided comprehensive training in key business principles. The curriculum was designed to build both technical skills and personal confidence, aligning with educational and economic empowerment goals.

1. Branding: Participants learned to create a unique brand identity.
2. Budgeting: The program introduced fundamental concepts of financial management and planning.
3. Pricing: Girls were taught how to determine viable price points for their products.
4. Pitching: The curriculum included training on effective communication and sales techniques.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The “Start-up Squad” program demonstrates a strong alignment with the global agenda for sustainable development, making significant contributions in the following areas:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The initiative provides inclusive and equitable quality education by offering vocational and life skills training outside of a formal academic setting. It equips young girls with practical knowledge for lifelong learning opportunities.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: By focusing exclusively on empowering young girls, the program actively works to achieve gender equality. It provides them with the tools, confidence, and opportunities to become future leaders and entrepreneurs, challenging gender-based economic disparities.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The program fosters an entrepreneurial culture from a young age, promoting the principles of productive employment and decent work. By teaching business fundamentals, it lays the groundwork for future economic participation and sustainable growth.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: This initiative provides targeted opportunities for a specific demographic, ensuring that young girls have access to specialized training that can enhance their future economic and social mobility, thereby helping to reduce inequalities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaboration between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City and the Keen Wealth Foundation exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving the SDGs.

Project Outcomes and Impact

The program concluded with measurable successes and tangible impacts on its participants.

• Entrepreneurial Launch: The participants successfully developed, branded, and launched three distinct micro-enterprises at the farmers market: two beverage companies and a slime business.
• Increased Confidence: Participants reported feeling more confident as a direct result of their experience in developing and selling their products.
• Real-World Experience: The girls gained invaluable hands-on experience in a market environment, learning customer engagement and perseverance.
• Resilience and Perseverance: A key lesson imparted, as highlighted by program leader Carissa Keen, was the value of perseverance and viewing failure as a learning opportunity, a critical mindset for sustainable success.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   The article highlights an educational initiative, the “start-up squad,” which provides non-formal education to young girls. The program focuses on practical skills for entrepreneurship, which aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

   • The article states, “Over the past 10 weeks, the girls have learned about key aspects of entrepreneurship, including branding, budgeting, pricing, and effective pitching.” This is a clear example of providing relevant skills-based education.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   The program is specifically designed to “empower girls ages 9 to 12.” By focusing on girls and providing them with skills, confidence, and opportunities in the economic sphere of entrepreneurship, the initiative directly contributes to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

   • The article notes the program’s effect on confidence: “‘When you’re like, selling stuff, like that to me, I’m feeling confident about it,’ said participant Ajia White.” This demonstrates the empowerment aspect central to SDG 5.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The core of the “start-up squad” program is to teach girls how to “build and run a business.” This promotes entrepreneurship and productive activities, which are key drivers of economic growth. It equips the next generation with the mindset and skills for creating their own economic opportunities.

   • The article mentions, “These young participants have embraced their roles as budding entrepreneurs. They independently developed and launched three unique brands at the market.” This directly relates to promoting entrepreneurship and the creation of micro-enterprises.

Specific SDG Targets

1. Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship

   This target is directly addressed as the program’s primary goal is to equip young girls with entrepreneurial skills. The article explicitly lists the skills taught: “branding, budgeting, pricing, and effective pitching.” The entire 10-week program is a vehicle for achieving this target for its participants.

2. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life

   While the participants are young, the program lays the foundation for this target by empowering girls to participate in economic activities. By building their business skills and confidence, the initiative prepares them for future leadership and full participation in the economy. The article states the program “gives them this opportunity” to realize their potential in the business world.

3. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities and entrepreneurship

   The “start-up squad” is a grassroots program that embodies the spirit of this target. It actively supports “productive activities” and “entrepreneurship” by providing training and a real-world platform (the farmers market) for the girls to launch their micro-enterprises. The creation of “two beverage companies and a slime business” is a direct outcome of this support.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicators for Target 4.4

   The article implies several ways to measure the acquisition of relevant skills:

   • Number of youth participating in entrepreneurship training: The article refers to “a group of girls from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City’s Northland Unit.” The size of this group is a direct indicator.
   • Demonstration of acquired skills: The girls’ ability to “independently developed and launch three unique brands” serves as a qualitative indicator that they have successfully learned and applied the skills taught.

2. Indicators for Target 5.5

   Progress towards empowerment and economic participation can be measured by:

   • Number of girl-led enterprises created: The article specifies that the girls launched “three unique brands,” which is a concrete indicator of economic participation.
   • Self-reported confidence levels: The quote from participant Ajia White, “I’m feeling confident about it,” suggests that changes in confidence can be used as a qualitative indicator of empowerment.

3. Indicators for Target 8.3

   The support for entrepreneurship can be measured through:

   • Number of new micro-enterprises created: The “two beverage companies and a slime business” are direct outputs that can be counted as an indicator of the program’s success in fostering new ventures.
   • Participation in local markets: The girls’ presence and sales activities at the “Parkville Farmers Market” is an indicator of their engagement in productive, economic activities.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: kshb.com