Almost 40 000 pupils and over 500 schools have experienced the Pikkuyrittäjät-journey!
The aim of Pikkuyrittäjät (Little Entrepreneurs) is to increase and strengthen the primary school pupils participation and ability to take initiative with learning by doing; to encourage children to think about their own ideas and to try them in practice. As the program progresses, the pupils learn a variety of skills and use the skills they learn in school in practice. The mini-company acts as a learning environment combining the knowledge from school, practical skills, as well as cooperation with business volunteers outside the school.
The goal is to provide children with life changing experiences and a feeling of success to show that anything can be achieved if you keep trying.
Nine-theme program full of experiences
1. Let your ideas fly!
Getting to know your own strengths and think creatively.
2. Names and plans
Coming up with a name for the mini-company and brain- storming a business idea.
3. Branding
Building a corporate image and creating your own logo.
4. Pitch your idea
Practicing customer service situations and devising a sales pitch.
5. Let's talk about money
Familiarizing with pricing, finance and shaping advertisements.
6. Marketing
Exploring of digital marketing and designing a webpage for the mini-company.
7. Getting ready for the Grand Finale
Checking everything is ready for the finale.
8. The Grand Finale
Organizing an event, where pupils are selling the products to real customers.
9. Celebration
Reviewing and celebrating the lessons learned.
In 2018 there was a Pikkuyrittäjät mobile application launched to support the program. With the mobile application, it is possible to get deeper into themes through tests and games, as well as share learning outcomes through videos and photos. For pupils it is also possible to get forward with the program and repeat themes during the program in their own pace.
Part of Junior Achievement Finland
Pikkuyrittäjät is facilitated by Junior Achievement Finland (JA Finland). Pikkuyrittäjät is a locally invented learning environment that came up with an experimental action by parents with corporate background. Pikkuyrittäjät was piloted in 50 schools at 2014-15. At 2016 Pikkuyrittäjät was developed to be able to fit as a practical tool and learning environment to support national core curricula. Today 11 000 pupils participate in Pikkuyrittäjät every school year.
Pikkuyrittäjät was awarded for the best European Education Program in Oslo 2016 and in Houston 2018 (Global Best Awards).
