2019 JA Americas Company of the Year Competition in Dominican Republic
November 26, 2019
Teams from all over the Americas region traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to participate in the 2019 JA Americas Company of the Year Competition from November 24–27. For three days, 20 teams heard inspirational speakers; met fellow JA students from the region; and vied for the FedEx Access Award, the Delta Social Impact Award, and the title of 2019 Company of the Year.
The 2019 Company of the Year Competition included student companies from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Uruguay, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Read on for day-by-day details.
Day 1: November 24, 2019
On Sunday, November 24, teams rehearsed their on-stage presentations, attended the FedEx Access Seminar with Rolando Medina, Managing Director of FedEx in the Caribbean, and the Delta Social Impact Seminar. They then wrapped up the day with a group dinner and opening remarks from JA Americas CEO Leonardo Martellotto, followed by a dance party on the beach.
Meet the teams:
Ishiki from JA Argentina sells glass containers holding small, handmade origami. The jars are then turned into keychains, magnets, decorative display pieces, and necklaces.
Kings from JA Argentina built a mini tank based on a scaled model of a real tank. The tank is made of PLA, a biodegradable plastic, and was constructed using a 3D printer. Inside, the tank contains a programmable microcontroller (Arduino Uno), an H Bridge for the motors, and a Bluetooth module to control the device. It can be powered by rechargeable batteries, old cell phone batteries, or laptop batteries, with an adjustable power feed from 5V to 12V.
Econudos from JA Brazil sells an ecological straw made of bamboo intended to replace plastic straws, which were recently removed from the local market due to their ecological footprint.
Fuse from JA Brazil produces Fusebag, a small bag made of recycled denim jeans that can hold a large smartphone, as well as documents, cash, and other small items. The bag comes with an over-shoulder strap or it can be hooked to beltloops.
Bioflux from JA Brazil created Absoft, a reusable, washable menstrual pad with a two- to four-year lifecycle. This eco-friendly alternative to disposal menstrual products integrates sustainability into women’s daily lives. The anatomical shape and two side flaps ensure proper fit and elimination of leaks. Absoft is made with eight layers and four fabrics: cotton, fleece, microfiber, and waterproof polyester.
OBI from JA Canada is a fashion company that produces the OBI reversible belt, a unisex accessory inspired by the latest fashion trends in Europe and North America. Made of heavy-duty nylon, the OBI belt includes a metal buckle, a reflective vinyl band on one side, and a reflective logo on the opposite side.
Energy Floor from JA Colombia created VALASE, floor tiles that transform kinetic energy produced by human movement or machine-generated vibration into electricity! The device uses a diode bridge to transform and transmit the electricity to a controller, then to an inverter, and finally to a battery or electrical wiring for use in electronics.
Jadpen from JA Costa Rica created Norvitano, an organic feed additive for cattle that acts at rumen level to control bovine enteric methane production and proportionately generates an increase in the use of converted energy, resulting in higher cattle weight and greater milk production. Norvitano also contributes to improved meat quality and cows’ reproductive health, generating an increase in bovine yield while reducing the carbon footprint of the livestock.
Future’s Mind from JA Dominicana is a web services company that delivers websites, mobile applications, and logo design to local businesses, continuing the Dominican Republic’s tradition of service delivery with an innovative and contemporary angle.
Holobook from JA Ecuador produced a book made of recycled material that includes content addressing social inclusion, values, appropriate use of technology, culture, biodiversity, history, motor skills, and entertainment. The book includes a transparent acrylic pyramid that turns the book’s contents into a hologram.
Wash You from JA Ecuador sells small pebble-sized dry soaps that require little water to cleanse hands, addressing sanitation needs in areas with limited water supplies. The soaps are available in portable containers that fit in a purse or attach to keys.
Kiru from JA Ecuador sells Toothy Bites, toothpaste tablets that are easy to transport and packed in small tins, eliminating the waste generated by traditional plastic toothpaste tubes and mouthwash bottles.
Ciclo Verde from JA México manufactures and sells biodegradable pots made from avocado seeds and skins. The pots can be planted directly into the ground, eliminating plastic waste from traditional pots and seed-starting methods.
Detecs from JA México created the Air Clock, an air purifier and bedside lamp that illuminates and freshens a room’s air in one device. The Air Clock’s three filters eliminate up to 99 percent of impurities in the air of the room in which it’s used.
Munay from JA Peru sells the EZ Light, an intelligent switch that allows the user to control electronic devices. The user can connect electronic devices with the switch via an app that Munay developed on a smartphone or tablet, available for both Android and Apple iOS devices.
Kaboo from JA Peru created GuideU, an online vocational test and professional guide to help give young people an idea of where to start when it comes to pursuing higher education and career direction.
Somniumn from JA Peru invented 2050, a card game that consists of 141 cards representing countries, situations, and actions. The game cards have printed text for sight-enabled players and in Braille for blind players, bring differently abled people together.
Salvage Designz from JA St. Kitts and Nevis upcycles used tires to create chic, contemporary tables. Available in several sizes with varying functions, the tables are customizable with different color options and different materials.
Jaquepol from JA Uruguay created Recipel 90%, notepads made with two cardboard covered and recycled paper from discarded notebooks.
Local Promoters from JA U.S. Virgin Islands is a student-led promotion company that focuses on raising awareness for a range of societal issues under the brand-campaign CTRL+ CHANGE. Local Promoters sells T-shirts in four colors, each corresponding to a different social issue. When consumers purchase T-shirts, they also pledge to help end or solve the corresponding issue: red for violence in communities, blue for marine and wildlife, yellow for positive social interaction among people in society, and white for the innocence of children and the importance of preserving their future.
Day 2: November 25, 2019
On Day 2, students set up booths for a trade fair at the San Juan Shopping Center in Punta Cana. Not only were they able to display their companies for the judges, but they met many members of the general public, as well. Each student team presented their companies and products or services to the panel of judges in private five-minute presentations, where they were able to answer any questions. During the trade fair, Jessica Wolf, Sales Manager Dominican Republic at Delta Air Lines, met with each student team at their booths to learn about the companies in order to help her select the winner of the Delta Air Lines Social Impact Award. Roland Medina, Managing Director, Puerto Rico and Caribbean District, FedEx Express, also met with each student team to help in order to select the winner of the FedEx Access Award, which will be awarded Tuesday evening.
Around 1:00pm, Leo Martellotto hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially kicking off the competition. He was assisted by Medina, Wolf, JA Dominicana Executive Director Cesar Asiatico (nominee for the 2019 Soraya Salti Award), JA Dominicana Board Chair Salvador Demallistre, and Ignacio Méndez Vice-Minister of Entrepreneurship for the Dominican Republic.
Day 3: November 26, 2019
Day 3 kicked off with a group photo of all participating student teams on the beach, followed by individual team interviews with the judges as they made their final selections for third, second, and first place in the 2019 JA Americas Company of the Year Competition.
At the awards ceremony, JA Americas awarded the Volunteer of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards.
Bernadette Salmon of JA Jamaica, has been named Volunteer of the Year . . .
…while Carlos Medina, from JA Peru, is Teacher of the Year.
Luciano Macagno, Managing Director, Latin America and Caribbean at Delta Air Lines, presented the Delta Social Impact Award to Ishiki from JA Argentina for its handmade origami.The award recognizes an innovative/effective approach for solving a problem, the potential to prosper internationally, and an implementable business model.
JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani welcome Rolando Medina, Managing Director, Puerto Rico and Caribbean District, FedEx Express, to the stage and thanked FedEx for being the founding sponsor of the Company of the Year competition in the Americas region, 11 years ago. Rolando then presented the FedEx Access Award to OBI from JA Canada, a fashion company that produces the OBI reversible belt (a unisex accessory inspired by the latest fashion trends in Europe and North America) and that best exhibited the principles of global connectivity. Read more about the FedEx Access Seminar and Award.
After the two signature awards, came the final prize: Company of the Year!
JA Americas Company of the Year, Third Place: Wash You from JA Ecuador was awarded third-place for its pebble-sized dry soaps that require little water to clean hands, addressing sanitation needs in areas with limited water supplies.
JA Americas Company of the Year, Second Place: Detecs from JA Mexico garnered second-place for its Air Clock, an air purifier and bedside lamp that illuminates and freshens a room’s air in one device.
JA Americas 2019 Company of the Year: Ciclo Verde from JA Mexico is the JA Americas 2019 Company of the Year for its biodegradable pots made from avocado seeds and skins that can be planted directly into the ground, eliminating plastic waste. Viva Mexico!
Congratulations to all the JA Americas student teams. Just getting to the Company of the Year Competition is a major accomplishment, and we’re inspired by your innovation!