August Regional Round-Up: Highlights from Our Six Regions
August 30, 2022
There’s always so much happening in the six JA regions that it can be hard to keep up! That’s why we’ve compiled some of our favorite stories from each regional operating center from last month.
JA Americas
After two years of virtual events, JA Americas is excited to celebrate the 2022 Company of the Year in person! The top 20 JA student companies in the region will meet at the IRTRA de Rethaluleu in Guatemala in December to vie for the title of JA Americas Company of the Year. Sponsored by FedEx, Delta Air Lines, and the Project Management Institute, the event marks the first regional COY to be held in Central America. It will also be combined with JA Guatemala's International Forum of Entrepreneurs (FIE).
Additionally, JA Americas is partnering with Arcos Dorados (the top franchiser of McDonald's restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean) to bring JA programs to eight countries, including the JA Company Program, Start-Up Challenge, Innovation Challenge, and Skills for Success, among others. Students will also gain access to content from MC Campus and Hamburger University, powered by McDonald's. Thanks to the commitment of several Arcos Dorados volunteers, the initiative will impact 25,000 students in the region.
JA Africa
Next month, JA Africa will host "Peace Through Prosperity: How JA Africa Contributes to Peacebuilding on the Continent.” The roundtable discussion will feature distinguished speakers and highlight the significance of JA’s 2022 Nobel Peace Prize nomination and the partners behind our organization’s impact. Speakers will also examine why investing in economic empowerment of young Africans is the key to promoting peace and sustainable development on the continent. Join the conversation on September 15 at 9amEDT/1pmGMT/9pmHKT. Register today!
JA Asia Pacific
This month, JA Asia Pacific and FedEx Express hosted the International Trade Challenge (ITC). Held virtually, this marked the 16th edition of the annual regional competition. Presenting partner FedEx has sponsored JA competitions around the world since 2007, including regional Company of the Year competitions, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge in the U.S., and the ITC in Asia Pacific. The FedEx/JA ITC provides young entrepreneurs with an opportunity to gain experience, connect with other like-minded people, and understand the importance of community involvement and social responsibility.
Pairing together two students from different locations, the ITC asks them to work together to imagine a market-entry strategy for a product or service that solves a real-life problem. This year’s challenge? Create a market-entry strategy for a physical product that places sustainability at its core for the German market. Read more.
INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA
NJAZ Al-Arab has launched “Ability to Execute” (A2E), a new staff development program from McKinsey. As part of its journey to fulfill strategic priorities in the region, INJAZ is focused on network collaboration and eager to tap into opportunities for capability building and behavior change. A2E Essentials will empower all employees across INJAZ with the foundational Skills needed to effectively execute day-to-day. The essential skills will give the network a common language and proven approaches to completing vital tasks, including coaching, problem-solving, and prioritization. Turning these common-sense skills into common practices will help improve the way we work together and is fundamental to our success. Across MENA, 62 INJAZ staff have enrolled in A2E.
Junior Achievement USA
The Sharks of the US entrepreneurship TV series Shark Tank—including JA alumnus Mark Cuban—recently filmed an episode of American game show Celebrity Family Feud to benefit Junior Achievement USA. On the show, celebrities and their work families try to guess the most popular answers to survey questions posed to the public. How did the Sharks do? The episode will air on September 11. If you’re in the US, watch on ABC at 8pmET or stream online!
JA Europe
JA Lithuania continued its partnerships with Lithuanian professionals living and working abroad to host Entrepreneurial Skills Pass (ESP) holders and show them international career opportunities. Lithuanian Professionals in Copenhagen (LPC) established internships and invited five ESP holders to visit Denmark and the companies where the members of the LPC work: Maersk, Circle K, Forecast, Ørsted, Novo Nordisk, plus the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania. ESP holders had a chance to interact with various job positions, complete practical tasks, and engage with the Lithuanian professionals community in Denmark.