The more risky, but fulfilling possibility would have been to start my own company.  I used my own savings to fund my market research and to establish the business infrastructure.  So, after contemplating and researching the possibility of being an entrepreneur night after night, I took the big step.

The company which I started, Future Flag Bearers is geared at providing Entrepreneurship- and Financial Literacy training to the teenager and young adults of SA (aged 15 to 28); providing them with alternative opportunities to that of leaving the country or working immediately after school or university.  We provide a coaching, training and mentoring service on aspects such as Personal Money Management, Starting your Own Micro Business, and Interview Preparation.

With the discontinuation of the UK Working Holiday Visa on 26 November 2008, it is estimated that in excess of 11 000 youngsters will not have the opportunity to head off to the UK.  More than 70% of teenagers that matriculate in 2008 won’t find jobs in 2009, and this figure is set to rise with the current financial crises.

We focus on providing individuals like these with alternative opportunities, training, ongoing support, and most importantly, insight into concepts and opportunities they can explore and discover whilst remaining in SA.

The first three weeks of October 2009 saw Future Flag Bearers presenting a comprehensive and exciting business and financial life skills training course to more than a 100 students of the Target Life Gap Year Programme; a youth initiative of the Living Word Church in Pretoria.  The students, aged between 18 and 22 have all enrolled for the Gap Year prior to embarking on either full-time studies or employment in 2010.

“It was a real honour and pleasure to have been provided with the opportunity of being involved in the lives of these young adults”, says Thommie Burger, owner of Future Flag Bearers.  The course started with the concept of entrepreneurship, providing practical skills on how to start your own micro business in South Africa.  The course further included a detailed section on Personal Financial Literacy, providing the students with practical skills on how to manage their money, investment choices, and the pitfalls of bad debt.  The course concluded with a look at the skills needed prior to entering the “world of work”.  This included a comprehensive look at interview preparation, writing a professional CV, and job search strategies.

Future Flag Bearers has been contracted as the sole supplier of business and financial life skills training to the Target Life Gap Year Programme.  For further information and details of our training and coaching programmes, please contact Thommie Burger on 079 300 8984 or email him on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Alternatively, please visit our website at www.futureflagbearers.co.za.