Fostering the can-do spirit
JA China works with companies and schools to nurture young entrepreneurs. Zhang Zefeng reports.
In a spacious hall filled with influential scholars and NGO representatives, five young entrepreneurs were invited onstage to share their ideas of entrepreneurship and innovation and offer their solutions for social issues.
This was a scene from the youth forum under this year’s World Philanthropy Forum, which took place in Beijing in late November.
The Forum attracted over 400 guests, including UN representatives and government officials from 30 countries and regions.
The youth forum focused on the idea of philanthropy, youth development and social talent development followed by panel discussions.
“These three elements are so essential for helping the global community,” says Paul Chou, chairman and president, JA (Junior Achievement) China, a nonprofit youth organization that functions as the youth forum’s rotating lead organizer.
Aspiring to nurture global business talent in China, since its establishment in 1993, JA China has been working with companies and schools to deliver business and economic programs in primary and middle schools and universities in China.
Huang Hongchuan had prior experience in business through selling things online, but his passion and talent for business weren’t fully awakened until he took JA China classes in high school.
While attending Zhixin High School in Guangzhou, Huang took economic and student entrepreneurship classes with JA China.
“They not only enlightened me academically, but also guided me to become an entrepreneur,” says the 23-year-old founder of SupSing, an education company. Huang was listed in this year’s Forbes China’s 30 Under 30.
Over the years, JA China has worked with 5.59 million Chinese students to help them with job readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship through various programs and hands-on experience.
Job Shadow Day, an academically motivating activity, gives students an up-close look at the world of work and answers the question: “Why do I have to learn this?” YESxBOP, Youth Enterprise Solutions for China’s Bottom of the Pyramid, challenges young people to develop innovative business strategies to change the lives of low-income communities in China.
One of its courses, JA Economics,