FedEx Access Helps JA Entrepreneurs Build a More Connected Market for Their Businesses
November 26, 2019
FedEx believes entrepreneurs help build connections that can power the world, and it proudly supports global entrepreneurship education. The FedEx Access Award, given to one JA student company at each of the annual regional JA Company of the Year competitions, recognizes student-run businesses that best exhibit the principles of global connectivity.
Rolando Medina, Managing Director, Puerto Rico and Caribbean District, FedEx Express, described the four principles of Access at the 2019 JA Americas Company of the Year Competition in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic:
Driven by innovation: The ability of a company to translate ideas into products and services that create value, that customers are willing to pay for.
Connected to and ready to access new markets: The ability of a company to export the products to another country, or even another city.
Fueling community development: How you can develop economic growth, create additional jobs in your country and city.
Active commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
At each of our six regional competitions, students attend the FedEx Access Seminar, determine how their student companies can achieve global access, and then compete for the coveted FedEx Access Award.
This past March, JA Asia Pacific held the first Company of the Year Competition of JA’s Centennial year in Manilla, Philippines. The JA Asia Pacific region is especially fortunate. In addition to the Company of the Year Competition, FedEx Express also sponsors the FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in August, and gives students another a chance to test their innovation skills.
At the 2019 JA USA National Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., in June, Pam Johnson, Communications Advisor at FedEx, challenged students to think about how their companies exhibit these principles. Students then presented their ideas to the crowd. Pam discussed the four principles of Access, the criteria that student companies should fulfill in order to win the FedEx Access Award.
In July, students at the 2019 JA Europe Company of the Year Competition in Lille, France, attended the FedEx Access Seminar with Jérôme Ovion, Vice President Operations, Hubs & Transport at FedEx, and Harald Schoenfelder, Vice President Clearance Operations Europe at FedEx. The two executives discussed trade, job creation, and global logistics, and what the panel of judges would be looking for when they selected the recipient of the FedEx Access Award.
In November, student companies from around the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region gathered for the 2019 INJAZ Young Entrepreneurs Competition in Oman. There, Mohannad Ayyoub, Business Development Manager for FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, and Seif Eldick, Business Development Manager for FedEx Express Africa, spoke about FedEx Access:
The FedEx Access Award winners this year in four of the six regions are as follows:
JA Asia Pacific: Terra from JA Philippines for its eco-friendly handbags made of coconut coir, patched-up recycled textiles, and faux leather.
JA USA: Hydrope from JA of Northern California for its customizable, military-grade paracord water bottle handle, which makes carrying a bottle more convenient and promotes the use of reusable water bottles.
JA Europe: Entella Company from JA Turkey for its product, Mareen, which aids in waste capture and removal in the ocean.
INJAZ Al-Arab: Small Brains from INJAZ Morocco for its coaching programs that simplify technology, programming, and robotics for children age 7–12 years old.
JA Americas will be announced tonight at the 2019 Company of the Year Competition Awards in Punta Cana.
The JA Africa FedEx Access Award winners will be announced next week at the region’s Company of the Year Competition in Accra, Ghana.
In addition to the JA Company of the Year competitions around the world, FedEx continues to support JA students even after they complete the program, launching the JA Alumni Accelerator Award at the first-ever JA Global Alumni Conference in Vienna, Austria, in August. The deadline for alumni to apply is November 30.
Of FedEx and its support of JA, Rolando Medina said, “FedEx is very committed to the community. We have apprenticeship programs all over the world, and we are extremely involved. Anything that has to do with the betterment of society, giving back to society and the community, and assisting or helping young entrepreneurs to develop, FedEx is there.”
Thank you, FedEx, for your generous and enthusiastic support of JA around the world!