JA Worldwide Celebrates 2021 Accomplishments
In another unprecedented year, the global pandemic has continued to disrupt education, business, and our daily lives. But 2021 was also an inspiring year. Despite the challenges, we're celebrating the best moments of the year and, with you, looking forward to the year ahead.
January
JA Worldwide was named #7 on the NGO Advisor list of the most impactful nonprofits for the third year in a row.
Asheesh Advani, JA Worldwide’s CEO, was invited to join the WEF Davos Agenda by the World Economic Forum and served on a panel to collaborate on “Delivering the Reskilling Revolution.”
Gather Business launched to showcase JA alumni-owned businesses.
Johnson & Johnson renewed its partnership with JA Worldwide for the sixth consecutive year.
JA and Microsoft launched a partnership focusing on youth acquiring the digital skills they need for the future.
JA announced Inspire–Prepare–Succeed, a new methodology for measuring student experiences, and new Impact Score to track impact metrics.
February
JA University Chief Chancellor David Meltzer premiered 2 Minute Drill. During each episode, one contestant wins the JA Impact Award.
Harry Winston launched a global partnership with JA Worldwide.
March
JA celebrated International Women’s Day with Shattering Glass.
Bechtel continued to support JA programs around the world as a global partner.
JA Africa held its 2020 Company of the Year competition virtually.
April
EY and JA released a report on Gen Z, featured in Fast Company.
HP and the HP Foundation continue to support JA around the world with global grants.
May
Twitter teamed up with JA for a second virtual job-shadow day.
JA Worldwide announced the second cohort of JA alumni Gather Reporters.
JAYE Malta won the HSBC Global FinCap Challenge.
Marsh McLennan hosted a job-shadow day as part of its 150th-anniversary celebration and Global Month of Volunteering.
JA Worldwide announced the 2021 Global Business Hall of Fame Laureates.
FedEx continued global support to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
June
JA Denmark student company “Bubbles” from Herningsholm Erhvervsskole & Gymnasier won The de la Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award. JA Worldwide created our first NFT as part of the award for students.
Junior Achievement USA held its second virtual National Student Leadership Summit and Company of the Year Competition.
Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi completed his second term as Chair of the JA Worldwide Board of Governors and ManpowerGroup CEO Jonas Prising took succeeded him. Karen Reddington, FedEx Express, and Shiv Khemkha, SUN Group Global, opted to share the role of Vice-Chair. Read more.
July
Avanade CEO Pamela Maynard joined the JA Worldwide Board of Governors.
JA Europe celebrated Gen-E European Entrepreneurship Festival, including the final competitions of the JA Start Up Program and the JA Company Program.
JA Africa and INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA partnered with Oliver Wyman for the regional
HSBC renewed its support of JA to Build a Financially Capable Generation.
Citi renewed funding for JA to ensure pathways to opportunity for young people around the world.
JA Worldwide launched the JA Data Experience (JADE), a platform supporting the annual data-gathering process for the global JA network using Microsoft PowerBI.
August
JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani won the Tony Hsieh Award on behalf of the organization for significant advancement and bold innovation.
JA Asia Pacific celebrated 15th FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge.
JA announced the third cohort of JA Worldwide Fellows, bringing together ten JA staff members from around the world for a unique professional development opportunity.
Delta signed on to support the Global Business Hall of Fame as the 2022 Technology Sponsor of the digital initiative.
September
JA Turkmenistan and USAID announced the completion of the four-year USAID Enriching Youth for Tomorrow Project.
A JA Italy teacher, a JA Malaysia alumnus, and a JA Lebanon alumnus were named finalists in top global awards.
JA Worldwide and Acceleration Partners launched the Shop for Good site.
Avanade renewed its support for JA as the Global Technology Partner for JA Worldwide.
Lenovo launched its first project with JA: the Lenovo JA Global Innovation Challenge for Lenovo’s September Month of Service.
October
JA supporters around the world walked, ran, and wheeled the 2021 Boston Marathon to raise money for JA.
JA honored Global Council member Patricia Francy with the JA Legacy of Leadership Award.
PepsiCo extended its support for JA around the world.
SAGE became a new JA Worldwide global partner.
JA Worldwide was selected to support the IHG Skills Academy.
Twitter employees mentored JA alumni as part of Twitter for Good Day and hosted a conversation with JA in Spotlight Series on Twitter Spaces.
Verizon became a new JA Worldwide partner.
November
INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA launched the 2021 Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration with Skills Enhancement Sessions.
JA Asia Pacific held its 2021 JA Company of the Year Competition virtually with host country JA Philippines.
JA staff around the world reunite, recharge, and reimagine with 2021 JA Global Leadership Conference.
At the GLC final ceremony, JA Worldwide announced that JA Mexico alumnus Jorge Badilo won the dentsu Rise Up Challenge, JA Turkmenistan CEO Ayna Bayramova won the JA Lifetime Achievement Award, JA Bulgaria CEO Milena Stoycheva won the Soraya Salti Award.
MetLife Foundation and JA Worldwide joined forces to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion with both Going Global and the Women’s Initiative to inspire and empower.
JA Europe welcomed Ukraine and Montenegro to the global JA network.
JA Africa launched Junior Billionaires Club and JA DEEP.
Junior Achievement USA received the LearnX Live! Diamond Award for Best Pandemic Response, E-Learning Design for its rapid transition to digital learning.
December
INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA held its virtual 2021 Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration finals for both high school and university student companies.
JA Americas held a virtual three-day 2021 Company of the Year Competition using augmented reality for the second year in a row.
SABIC renewed its partnership with JA Worldwide for the global education initiative, Lights of Our Future.
JA Americas concluded EmpleaTECH, a three-year partnership with the Inter-Americas Development Bank and SAP, benefitting 3,800 students in the region.
JA took the stage at the RewirEd Summit to discuss financial capability and the future of education with HSBC and Merlyn Mind.
Young people in Libya, Iraq, Sudan, and Mauritania were served by INJAZ Al-Arab JA MENA via digital platforms.
All of us at JA wish you a world of good wishes this holiday season. Thank you for your support, whether you're a volunteer, teacher, alumnus, board member, advisor, donor, or staff member. Serving more than 10 million students every year simply wouldn't be possible without you.