2023 Year in Review

Because of JA . . .

Leadership Message

from Jonas Prising (Chair, Board of Governors, JA Worldwide; CEO, ManpowerGroup) and Asheesh Advani (CEO, JA Worldwide)

In 2023, business volunteers, teachers, and JA staff mentored millions of students and served as role models for the world’s youth. More than 375,000 business volunteers worked alongside JA students, guiding them toward career opportunities they might never have considered and influencing the trajectory of global future leaders. We served youth in over 100,000 schools, enabling us to partner with over 300,000 teachers and educators in more than 100 countries.

Because of JA, students are learning entrepreneurship through hands-on, immersive experiences that result not only in job-creating startups, but also products and services that solve some of the most difficult challenges in their communities. In this report, you’ll meet this year’s finalists in our global entrepreneurship event, an initiative that gathers the winning JA Company of the Year from each of our six regions and offers them recognition, additional opportunities, and seed money to further their entrepreneurial solutions to important local and national issues.

Because of JA, youth are specifically focused on tackling environmental challenges, putting their JA training to work to build a more sustainable future for our planet. You’ll meet a JA alumnus who partnered with the UN to launch an environmental hackathon, hear from additional alumni who led a panel at COP 28, and see the results from an environmental-education study developed by JA and a global partner.

Because of JA, students and employers are working collaboratively to address the skills gap from a young age. We’re equipping young people with the critical work-readiness skills that today’s job market requires, from AI and STEM to problem-solving, creativity, and project-management. In this report, you’ll read how JA Worldwide’s business partners are infusing our iconic learning experiences in schools with relevant job skills and discover why the World Economic Forum recognized JA for our impactful educational approach.

Because of JA and our boundless strategic plan to offer JA’s life-changing experiences to underserved populations, you’ll hear inspiring stories of how a global partner’s support in Africa has expanded our footprint, inspired African youth, and driven entrepreneurial opportunities; how a JA student in rural Papua, Indonesia, is employing her former classmates at a thriving local business; how our expansion in the MENA region is enabling us to focus on youth in underserved communities; and how JA is serving youth refugees in Greece, Italy, and Lebanon.

Because of JA, students in over 100 countries are developing lifelong financial capability, an extension of financial literacy that emphasizes behavioral change and mindset shift as much as hands-on lessons. You’ll read how global financial institutions have partnered with JA to produce an award-winning TV show in Africa, develop a global mobile app that won one of the ed-tech industry’s highest awards, and introduce young people to financial-industry mentors.

Because of JA, millions of alumni are honing their leadership skills, as they launch and grow countrywide alumni communities that facilitate cross-border fellowship, mentorship, and business partnerships. You’ll read about this year’s expansion of Youth Voices—an initiative we launched last year to showcase and elevate the voices of JA’s young alumni—which enabled our alumni leaders to be trained in the AI-driven sensemaking process that analyzes and structures recorded conversations. You’ll also read about alumni leadership academies launched in Africa and Asia Pacific.

This was another record-setting year for JA, and that’s because of you. Through your support and partnership, JA delivered 17.3 million student learning experiences in 2023, the most in our century-long history. The results? Millions more youth have access to the skillset and mindset they need to succeed, drive real change, and ensure that business is a force for good.

2023 Global Impact

JA’s reputation for impact is unmatched, producing remarkable global outcomes among JA students: curiosity, creativity, self-confidence, resilience, and the determination to build a better life. Our funders support the development of learning experiencing that prepare them for entrepreneurship, fulfilling employment, and financial health. Funders also support strategic initiatives at the JA Worldwide headquarters, at regional operating centers, and in JA member countries and local areas, where JA staff engage, train, and support educators and volunteers. The result is over 190 million student-contact hours and over 15 million student experiences in 2022.

Story of the Year

Unlocking Potential in Indonesia: Papua’s Economic Rebirth

Nestled on the easternmost edge of Indonesia, Papua is a province marked by its seclusion and untapped potential. Despite being endowed with some of the world’s largest deposits of copper, gold, and silver, ethnic Papuans have largely remained on the periphery of this wealth. Jayapura, the capital and largest city, reflects this contrast vividly—bustling with activity yet grappling with high unemployment and financial exclusion. Infrastructure, particularly in education, remains inadequate, and local entrepreneurship is often confined to selling produce, a stark reminder of the systemic barriers that impede home-grown business ventures.

Since 2018, a transformative initiative by Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI, a member of JA Worldwide), supported by Prudential Indonesia, has sought to change this narrative. The Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program is designed to foster economic inclusion for ethnic Papuans by equipping them with the skills to enter and innovate in the modern economy. Over the course of 18 months, participants learn an approach to business and future planning that goes beyond the subsistence lifestyle historically prevalent in the region. A focus on arts and cultural elements provides a familiar foundation on which to build these new ideas.

Participants spend the first eight months preparing to launch a business, followed by ten additional months of support to ensure sustainability. The training leverages the insights of former students who come back to serve as coaches, aiding new entrepreneurs in maintaining commitment, even through challenges. This structure has led to significant successes: of the 114 applicants, 45 have participated, and 23 have completed the training.

Among the program’s successes is Yafeth Steven Wetipo, whose entrepreneurial spirit has blossomed into a significant local enterprise. After completing the Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program, Yafeth identified a niche for high-quality, locally sourced coffee in a market that had previously imported most of its beans. He established a coffee shop that quickly became a hub for coffee enthusiasts in the region. More than just a business, his coffee shop serves as a training ground for aspiring baristas, equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in the burgeoning coffee industry of Papua. This initiative not only promotes local products but also fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the community.

Another success story is that of Patricia Ormuseray. An ethnic Papuan herself, Patricia has leveraged the skills and knowledge gained from the PJI program to establish two fashion and accessories shops in downtown Jayapura. These shops are not only commercial enterprises but also cultural beacons that employ native Papuans, fostering economic inclusion and community development.

The journey for another participant, Paideia Gratia (Grace) Sumihe, took an international turn in 2023 when she was selected by the Z Zurich Foundation as a ZZF Scholar to attend the One Young World Summit in Belfast. This global annual event brings together young leaders from around the world, exposing Grace to new ideas and networks. Her experience at the summit was transformative, leading her to continue her involvement with PJI as a part-time staff member, where she influences and inspires new participants.

All three stories are a testament to the power of entrepreneurship education initiatives in transforming lives and communities. From the vibrant streets of Jayapura to the global stage in Belfast, these journeys underscore the impact of empowering the youth to envision and create a prosperous future for themselves and their communities.