Junior Achievement South Africa (JA South Africa) is proud to announce Absa as the official partner for the implementation of the Enterprise Program Plus (EP+) initiative, culminating in the prestigious Junior Achievement Company of the Year (COY) competition.
The JA Company of the Year competition, Junior Achievement South Africa’s flagship event, gathers Grade 10 and 11 learners from across the country. These young entrepreneurs will compete in their respective provinces, with provincial winners converging in Gauteng to vie for the national title. This year’s Company of the Year competition is themed GreenOvation and will see learners combine environmental sustainability and innovation, focusing on solutions and technologies that address environmental challenges and promote sustainability.
Through JA’s Enterprise Program Plus – a comprehensive suite of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness program – students will conceive, launch, and manage their own businesses. This hands-on experience equips learners with practical skills essential for success in the business world.
The collaboration between Junior Achievement South Africa and Absa aims to empower high school learners to view entrepreneurship as a viable career option and to foster an entrepreneurial spirit throughout South Africa. As part of Absa’s commitment to being an active force for good, this collaboration is the ultimate embodiment of our move towards a more human-centred approach to banking – this initiative is an expression of our commitment to making a meaningful contribution.
The partnership launch event will take place at St. Barnabas Technical School on Friday, 26 July 2024, highlighting the commitment of both organisations to making entrepreneurship education a cornerstone of economic growth in South Africa.
“The partnership with Absa aligns perfectly with Junior Achievement South Africa’s strategy to prepare South African youth to succeed in the global economy. Entrepreneurship education has been a key driver in fostering entrepreneurial thinking, and we are thrilled to witness the stories that will emerge from the 1,000 young people participating in the program. We are dedicated to empowering tomorrow’s leaders with the skills and mindset needed to build thriving communities,” said Nelo Spies, Executive Director of Junior Achievement South Africa.
“For Absa, being an active force for good means investing in the future of our young people. Partnering with Junior Achievement is crucial to our mission of achieving financial inclusion through entrepreneurship. By Teaching entrepreneurship in high schools, we equip students with essential skills that foster lifelong success, job creation and economic resilience. We are excited to collaborate with Junior Achievement South Africa and look forward to inspiring entrepreneurial journeys of our youth, says Dr. Steven Zwane, Absa’s Managing Executive of Corporate Citizenship.
Making a meaningful contribution to the communities in which we operate, and being an active force for good is at the very heart of Absa’s brand and business promise, ‘Your story matters’. To this end, breaking barriers and empowering people in society, sports and the workplace are ingrained in the Absa DNA. In the spirit of stimulating Financial Inclusion through Entrepreneurship, Absa has put the finishing touches on a flagship new Ready to Work Programme, which aligns to our revised focus, including the enhanced “Ready to Trade” business curriculum, providing end-to-end guidance from business planning, registration, to trading (all the for the benefit of small business and entrepreneurs).
Moreover, this Youth Month, Absa celebrated the unique stories of the next generation of creators and innovators through entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes throughout the month. Absa also partnered with young filmmaker – Ntokozo Mlaba, winner of the Young Filmmaker Award at the 2024 Joburg Film Festival (who was also awarded a financial sponsorship by Absa). Absa supported Ntokozo in hosting a series of free community film screenings to celebrate Youth Day and the contributions of the youth to South Africa’s freedom.
This partnership and the launch event signify a significant step towards nurturing a generation of innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs who will drive South Africa’s economic future. Our efforts align with and support the Department of Basic Education’s ambition to integrate entrepreneurship education in South African schools by 2030. By investing in these young minds, Junior Achievement South Africa and Absa are not only shaping individual futures but also laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and entrepreneurial nation.
About JA South Africa
Junior Achievement (JA) South Africa is one of South Africa’s largest and most-impactful youth-serving NGOs. JA South Africa has a presence in all nine provinces and has reached over 600,000 youth since its inception in 1979. It is JA Africa’s oldest chapter and reaches youth through work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Visit www.jasa.org.za for details.
About Absa
Absa Group Limited (‘Absa Group’) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.
Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance.
Absa Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Absa also has offices in China, Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.
For further information about Absa Group Limited, visit www.absa.africa.
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