Babson Undergraduate Dean Dennis Hanno and over 35 students, faculty and staff are spending winter break in Ghana, teaching entrepreneurship and business to high school students and adult learners.

This is the 8th year of the project designed to boost business development opportunities in the area.  Students are split into 12 teams (all at varying stages of their education) to teach local high school students during the day.  At night, the students, faculty and staff teach local business community members.  The week culminates with a regional business plan competition sponsored by Babson, and the three winning schools win cash prizes.  In addition, each participating school receives computers/laptops, textbooks and supplies provided by the Babson volunteers.

“When the project started, the primary goal of the trip was to work with interested students to help them learn about entrepreneurship, business planning and personal development, but much more than that happens,” says Dean Hanno. “Friendships and bonds are formed and the knowledge shared during the two weeks will last a lifetime – on both sides of the ocean. This amazing and impactful experience really is global citizenship at its finest.”

The two-week winter mission to bring Babson business skills and a curriculum for young entrepreneurs to developing areas of Africa is documented on postings made to Dean Hanno’s blog:  www3.babson.edu/ug/academics/blog/.