Teaching the leaders of tomorrow about the value of charity today

FLIP, as a philanthropic foundation, is aimed at educating young people about charitable giving . A joint venture between the Gibraltar-based Bonita Trust foundation and Credit Suisse, the foundation targets potential businessmen and women of the future by encouraging students to learn about the way charities work and to become involved in the work charities do.

rnEach qualifying student (anyone from a Gibraltar school or college who achieved at least five A* GCSEs) is invited to complete an application form, and then works on a number of charity and finance-based topics throughout their final two years at school (Years 12 and 13) and their first year at university. Only twenty students are selected, and tasks over the three-year period include the the set-up and virtual management of virtual charities with assistance from a qualified investment mentor along with a charity fundraising project. This not only implants the concept of charity within the student's mind, but also provides them with practical business skills they may need later in life. The students are given gifts and financial incentives throughout the process in order to focus their efforts and maintain their interest in the projects.

rnCharities that have been helped by the philanthropic foundation include the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, the Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired, the Cat Welfare Society, the Gibraltar Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Group and Childline Gibraltar. The students are set a target of raising at least £40,000 between them, which the Bonita Trust then matches. The foundation's ultimate aim is to give back to society through society's own future leaders – although the young people the foundation mentors may not necessarily go on to work specifically for charities, if they ever find themselves in a position to give back to charity, they will be able to maintain a charitable portfolio and work effectively with charitable organisations to help those less fortunate than themselves.

rnThe work that the foundation does with young people to help them understand and empathise with what charities do is admirable, but more so is the enthusiasm with which the students embrace the program. With so much money raised to help such a vast array of charities, the foundation has more than justified its setting-up and can continue to educate the business leaders of the future in the potential of charity.