The 2013 Game of Real Life will be held May 17-18 at Furr High School, 520 Mercury Houston, TX 77013

Game students from Furr High School and KIPP Sunnyside will participate.

Volunteers are needed for Speed Interviewing, Training, Registration, and various other tasks – please add link to the volunteer form.

There’s still time to join us as a Business Unit, or to sponsor a student. Find out about ways to give.  

The 2013 Game of Real Life will be held May 17-18 at Furr High School, 520 Mercury Houston, TX 77013

Game students from Furr High School and KIPP Sunnyside will participate.

Volunteers are needed for Speed Interviewing, Training, Registration, and various other tasks – please add link to the volunteer form.

There’s still time to join us as a Business Unit, or to sponsor a student. Find out about ways to give.  

2013 Skills 4 Living Breakfast_invite

2010 Results

1) Educational Course – A 120-hour credited financial education, career discovery and college planning course, taught in one semester, two semesters, or a summer bridge for middle school, high school and college students. The course teaches students to communicate, work in teams, apply critical thinking and learn practical skills for how to win in the real game of life.

2) The “Game” – Serving as the capstone to the educational course, the Game is a 20-hour experiential learning event, where students apply what they have learned during real world scenarios that simulate their future.  During the Game, students interview for jobs, are hired, trained and then “age” from 19 to 26 as they work, pay bills, fund college, file tax returns, buy homes, cars, insurance and make age appropriate life decisions. Each Game is hosted by local businesses and trained volunteers who bring their companies to the students.  The Game offers students an opportunity to work with professionals to learn about career opportunities and standards of living that are a result of an education and working smart.

3) Career Mentor Program – Adult volunteers, representing an array of industries and career backgrounds, serve as mentors to students in the program to help them navigate challenges as well as realize their potential for the future.  Mentors share their personal journeys, highlighting their successes and disappointments, which helped get them to where they are today.

4) COMING SOON! Leadership Development Institutes (LDIs) – Workshops designed to keep Game graduates on track for achieving their goals.  Through the LDIs, students are provided with additional training in areas such as SAT prep, essay writing, time management, and completing college and scholarship applications.

The prime objective of the Game programs is to level the playing field for at-risk and underserved youth.  Our programs do not tell teens what to do, but help them expand their horizons and think about their choices through a new, more informed lens.

The Game of Real Life is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved curriculum.  Skills 4 Living is the recipient of the FDIC Chairman’s award for Innovation in Financial Education.

We are looking for passionate young people who love empowering teens to discover their path and see what’s possible in their lives.  You do not need to be a financial or career expert to become a team leader.  Each Team Leader will have 10-15 students that you will work with throughout the program and serve as their coach during the Game simulation.  Your job will be to coach students, not to give them the answers.  All team leaders participate in a weeklong training where S4L trainers cover all material and teaching strategies.  Our team leaders leave with increased financial and career knowledge to use in their own lives.  For your time, you will receive a stipend.

Each Team Leader must attend the entire weeklong training. Class commitments vary depending on school schedules. The program, itself, is approximately 90 – 120 hours.

Next training: TBA

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to GameHiring@Skills4Living.org.  For questions, please contact Nibal Markus, Director of Youth Programs, at Nibal@Skills4Living.org or 713-782-9974.

Each instructor must attend the entire weeklong training. Class commitments vary depending on school schedules. The program, itself, is approximately 90 – 120 hours.

Next training: TBA

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter to GameHiring@Skills4Living.org.  For questions, please contact Nibal Markus, Director of Youth Programs, at Nibal@Skills4Living.org or 713-782-9974.