The 2011 JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge kicked off in March. This can only show that this year brings with it new opportunity to make some extra cash while learning important financial skills that will assist you in the future. If you enjoy finance, research and working in a team, then this challenge is for you. With no risk of losing actual money and loads of fun to be had, it’s an opportunity not to be missed.

If you are a South African High School learner or University student, you are invited to take part in this year’s Investment Challenge. Registrations for the 2011 intake are now open and registration forms are obtainable on the JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge website (http://schools.jse.co.za/) and the new interactive mobisite. For information, tips and interaction also visit the Facebook and Twitter pages. You still have time to fill those forms out so we urge you students to have a go at it.

This educational initiative teaches students and learners about investing through managing a virtual portfolio of R1 million. Entrants will need to select one or more risk portfolios that they wish to take part in. The portfolio options are Income (low risk); Equity Growth (moderate risk) and Speculator (high risk). Besides learning how to invest on the stock market, there are prizes up for grabs to the value of R240 000 plus an all expenses paid overseas trip. Last year’s winning students headed off to Morocco and visited the Casablanca stock exchange and explored the rich culture and renowned city of Rabat.

“We encourage the youth of South Africa to take part in the 2011JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge as it will give them the opportunity to enhance their financial literacy which in turn will help them in securing a better future. We hope that more teachers will be involved and encourage their students to be part of this initiative,” says Senior General Manager of JSE Education, Maureen Dlamini.

Andrew Warren, Executive at Liberty Retail SA Marketing, says: “Liberty is committed to educating South Africa’s future leaders. The JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge encourages learners and students to invest in their future wealth.”.

The JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge is an ongoing annual competition running form March to September. Throughout the Investment Challenge, the winning team for the month in each portfolio will win R500 for each member, R500 for their school as well as another R500 for their teacher. After months of hard work, five prizes amounting to R60 000 per portfolio will be awarded to the overall winners in each portfolio. The winners will be flown to Johannesburg from around SA to the awards ceremony which is held at the JSE every year.

Each team will be required to pay a registration fee of R120 per team per portfolio entered for the school and R150 per team for the universities. For registration forms go to: website: http://schools.jse.co.za or http://university.jse.co.za; mobisite: http://schools.jse.co.za/mobile or http://university.jse.co.za/mobile or contact the Investment Challenge.

For more details on this please call

Co-ordinators on 011 – 520 7116/ 7344/ 7168.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JSELiberty-Investment-Challenge/352982065154

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JSELiberty_Game

These are just a few initiatives out there on the South African market to educate and develop young minds! Take this into heart Cape Town, a money smart youth is a brilliant beacon of hope