INJAZ YEC Introduces Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
November 4, 2020
On Sunday, INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA kicked off its first-ever virtual Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration (YEC) with the launch of the INJAZ Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Youth Skills Enhancement Sessions. The event engaged senior representatives from YEC signature partner companies in a panel discussion about entrepreneurship, the INJAZ ecosystem, and skills gained by MENA youth during their special learning journey. Watch the event here:
What, exactly, is the INJAZ Entrepreneurship Ecosystem? It’s a different way of thinking about the JA Company Program (an in-depth JA learning experience, in which students form a company that develops and sells a real product or service and makes real profits) and the resulting Company of the Year competition. Until four years ago, INJAZ Al-Arab celebrated its Company of the Year competition by hosting an event in which students presented their products or services on the main stage, participated in one-on-one interviews with judges, and displayed their wares at a trade fair, resulting in first-, second-, and third-place finishers, as well as signature award winners. Through this approach, although students honed their presentation and sales skills and learned to work under pressure, the event did not actively seek to teach students new skills that are critical for students in the MENA region.
Starting in 2016, INJAZ Al-Arab began reaching out to partners about a new approach, one in which students would actively learn new skills during the annual event . . . skills that would build and expand on the JA company program skill set. Over the last four years, interested has blossomed; this year, seven partner corporations (Citi Foundation, Investcorp, Mastercard, FedEx, Boeing, Schneider Electric, and Google) teamed up to offer youth a specific set of skills that complement JA Company Program, prepare MENA students for today’s job market, and equip students in the Middle East and North Africa with the skills to not only scale and sustain their businesses but also to create new startups in the future. The seven skills offered by the signature partners during the YEC include:
Design thinking
Sustainability
Growth and development
Technology
Innovation
Business strategy
Customer service
Each partner owns a topic and, in conjunction with INJAZ Al-Arab, designs interactive sessions that teach the new skill in practical, easily applicable method. These learning experiences culminate in a competition for the top student companies on December 9 and 10.
We’re excited about the potential of the INJAZ Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and its benefits for MENA students.
Watch INJAZ Al-Arab’s collection of #YEC2020 highlights on Instagram!