JA Rise Up Girls, with Junior Achievement Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than 1 billion people, half of whom will be under 25 by 2050 (World Bank). Such a high number of young people provides an opportunity for economic growth – but only if this younger generation has the necessary skills to find a job.

Junior Achievement (JA) Africa’s mission is to prepare young people for the future of work by nurturing their entrepreneurial ideas, honing their work skills and teaching them financial literacy. The JA Company Program equips young people with the practical skills required to build and manage their own business. During the 16-week programme, students are encouraged to come up with a new business idea that fills a gap in the market or solves a problem in their community. Working in teams, they design, produce, market and sell their products and services, giving them real-world exposure to the world of business. They are then invited to compete at the National Company of the Year competition where they can pitch their business ideas to real entrepreneurs to raise funds.