January 2026 OneJA Newsletter
Photo from Lietuvos Junior Achievement (JA Lithuania).
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Dear colleagues,
I’m often asked the question, how are today’s geopolitical shifts affecting JA’s mission and our ability to operate peacefully and collectively across 100+ countries? It’s an understandable concern. We’re navigating a period of heightened geopolitical tension, fragmentation, and uncertainty about the future of international cooperation . . .
STAFF ACTION ITEMS
JA WORLDWIDE FELLOWS APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 21
There’s still time to apply for the seventh cohort of the JA Worldwide Fellows Program. Applications are due on January 21 by 11:59pmEST. The year-long fellowship begins virtually in February and runs through the end of the calendar year. JA Fellows take part in monthly virtual leadership sessions, an in-person development experience, and transformational coaching, all designed to strengthen leadership, mentorship, and strategic skills in a global context.
The Fellows curriculum continues to evolve each year, shaped by the needs and opportunities of JA offices around the world. If you’ve been considering applying, now’s the moment. Learn more and submit your application on OneJA.
ADD THE MARCH 2026 GLOBAL TOWN HALL TO YOUR CALENDAR
Get ready for the next JA Global Town Hall on March 18, 2026, at 9amEDT/2pmCET/9pmHKT. If you registered for the September JA Global Town Hall (or any previous town hall), you do not need to register for the March session; you should have received a calendar invite from contact@jaworldwide.org earlier this month. If you have never registered for or attended a global town hall, sign up for the March session one OneJA.
ACCESS LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY CARDS ON ONEJA
Ring in the year of the horse on February 17! With energy, confidence, and forward momentum, the horse is a fitting theme for this new year. Find the Lunar New Year design (PNGs in two sizes and the design file) on OneJA. Download it, customize it if needed, and share it with your audiences.
HELP SHAPE A GLOBAL INDIVIDUAL-GIVING CAMPAIGN
JA Worldwide is excited to share early plans for a new global individual fundraising and awareness campaign and to invite your JA location to help shape it. Taking place over one week (date still to be determined), the campaign will allow your JA location to join a coordinated global effort, driving visibility and individual giving through social media across our own distinct channels, all at the same time.
Save time: JA Worldwide will develop and provide ready-to-use campaign materials, which you can customize with a direct donation link for your JA location.
Maximize local impact: 100% of donations made through your unique link are directed to your organization.
Create efficiency: Each participating location will receive a turnkey campaign toolkit and a unique donation link. Funds raised will be passed directly to JA locations after the campaign closes.
Increase impact: OneJA is bigger than just the staff. It includes educators, volunteers, alumni, board members, partners, supporters, and champions who proudly identify with JA. This campaign invites them to show their OneJA spirit—and support the JA mission together.
Interested? Share your thoughts on OneJA.
PUT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLKIT TO WORK
The Strategic Planning Toolkit is now available on OneJA. Built to turn global strategy into meaningful local action, the toolkit walks teams through understanding the global framework, adapting it to local realities, and communicating priorities clearly to boards, partners, and funders, with practical worksheets, facilitation tools, and ready-to-use materials that can be applied whether you’re updating an existing plan or building one from the ground up. Whether you're refining priorities, stress-testing assumptions, or aligning teams around a common direction, the Strategic Planning Toolkit helps you plan and execute in the years ahead.
DOWNLOAD THE DRAFT IMPACT INTELLIGENCE TOOLKIT
A draft of the Impact Intelligence Toolkit is now available on OneJA, and we’d love to get your feedback. Impact Intelligence represents JA’s next evolution as a learning organization—helping us move beyond counting learning experiences to understanding what works, why it works, and how we can continuously improve across the network.
The toolkit brings together data, research, insights, and storytelling in a single, practical system for measuring and communicating outcomes. Some sections invite deeper exploration, while others are ready to use right away. We encourage you to explore what’s most relevant to your work and share feedback that will directly shape the final version of the toolkit for the entire JA network.
GET STARTED WITH THE LMS PACKAGE
Join a "Getting Started with the LMS Package" webinar on Wednesday, January 28, at 10:00amCET/5:00pmHKT. We will showcase the benefits of using the LMS Package to deliver digital learning experiences to students and provide information on deploying it. There are only two sign-up times for the LMS Package: one in January and another in July. Get the Zoom link and download a calendar invite on OneJA.
SIGN UP FOR AN ENTERPRISE ZOOM ACCOUNT THROUGH JA WORLDWIDE
Is an Enterprise Zoom Account right for your JA location? Each account is US$230 per year and comes with the Large Meeting Bundle, perfect for gatherings with up to 500 participants (which can be temporarily bumped up to 1,000 when you’re hosting an extra-large event). Licences run from February 2026 to February 2027. Sign up for this year's license by January 30. Find the form on OneJA.
We’ll also be reaching out to current Zoom license holders to confirm renewals and see whether you have additional needs.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GLC RIO
If you joined us in Rio for the 2025 Global Leadership Conference (GLC), we’d love to hear what stood out for you. Tell us what you loved, what we can strengthen next time, and the moments or insights you’re taking back to your teams. Your reflections help shape future GLC programming and ensure we continue to create meaningful, relevant experiences for our global community. Share your thoughts on OneJA.
You can also find slide decks, handouts, and photos from GLC Rio. While the in-person experience is never recorded or livestreamed—its purpose is connection, collaboration, and the kind of networking that can only happen face-to-face—you can still revisit the learning via the speakers' slides and handouts. View GLC Rio materials. And remember that you can also re-experience all sessions from GLC Virtual on OneJA.
GLOBAL NEWS
2026 DE LA VEGA GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD SET FOR MARCH
The De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award is back this March, bringing together JA student entrepreneurs from around the world for a global celebration of innovation, leadership, and impact. Join us on March 4, 2026, at 9amEST/3pmCET/10pmHKT for the live, virtual awards ceremony and see the finalists take the global stage. Watch the livestream from anywhere (and learn about the 2026 finalists) at jaworldwide.org/delavega.
JA WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTES LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO THE HOUR OF AI
JA contributed two brand-new hands-on activities that help students explore what’s possible when they use AI as a thinking partner.
Fresh and Forecasted: Lemonade by the Data
Crack the Tough Stuff
Each experience opens the door for young people to practice creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking while learning how AI works.
Find links to the new JA AI activities and get an inside peek at what inspired them from our Learning Experience Designers on our blog.
AFRINNOVATE YOUTH CHALLENGE HIGHLIGHTS THE POWER OF YOUTH-LED ENTERPRISE
The third edition of the AfrInnovate Youth Challenge showed what happens when young people are given the skills, mentorship, and opportunity to lead. Convened by JA Africa with support from the Z Zurich Foundation and JA Worldwide, the challenge brought forward youth-led social enterprises tackling real-world issues across agriculture, climate resilience, waste management, and community development. SkyVerse Solutions from Tanzania was named the overall winner for its mechanized post-harvest groundnut processing solution, with strong finalists from Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Liberia recognized for equally practical, impact-driven ideas. Beyond the awards, AfrInnovate reflects the broader reach of JA Africa’s Social Equity Program, which has engaged more than 150,000 young people across nine countries and helped catalyze thousands of youth-led enterprises, demonstrating that inclusive entrepreneurship is not a future goal, it’s already happening. Read more.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS LEAD THE WAY AT JA AFRICA’S 15TH COMPANY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
The 15th edition of the JA Africa Company of the Year Competition brought together student entrepreneurs from across the continent in Abuja, Nigeria, to show how youth-led businesses can advance climate action and sustainable development. Convened by JA Africa under the theme “ACT! Action for Climate Transformation,” the competition challenged teams from eight countries to turn climate-focused ideas into viable, scalable ventures through a rigorous evaluation process that reflected real-world business standards. Smartgenix from Nigeria was named JA Africa Company of the Year 2025, with Plantura from Mauritius and Renewablock from Uganda earning second and third place, respectively, and Smartgenix now set to represent Africa at the De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Award across the JA Worldwide network. Beyond the awards, the competition reinforced JA Africa’s commitment to preparing young people not just to participate in their economies, but to shape them, while highlighting how entrepreneurship education equips youth with the skills, confidence, and agency to lead on climate solutions and inclusive growth. Read more.
GLOBAL PARTNERS HELP POWER JA LEARNING EXPERIENCES
From Malaysia to Mexico to Spain, young people gain the confidence to shape their own paths through JA learning experiences around the world. In classrooms and communities, students turn ideas into businesses, test leadership in real situations, and discover new possibilities through meaningful connections with mentors and volunteers. As they make decisions, collaborate with peers, and apply practical skills, they gain clarity about their own potential. Support from global partners helps bring these programs to life worldwide, expanding access to learning experiences that equip youth to move forward with purpose. Read more.
HARRY WINSTON'S LEGACY AND JA'S MISSION
Harry Winston Inc.'s support of JA reflects a belief in the power of young people to recognize opportunity and build something meaningful from it. That belief echoes the early story of Harry Winston himself, whose entrepreneurial instincts surfaced at just 12 years old when he identified the true value of a pawnshop emerald and turned a 25-cent purchase into an $800 sale. What began as curiosity and confidence grew into a defining career, leading him to establish his namesake business in New York City in 1932 and build a global luxury brand that earned him the titles “King of Diamonds” and “Jeweler to the Stars.” Today, JA creates learning experiences that help young people develop those same skills: recognize opportunity, make informed decisions, and turn ideas into action. By partnering with JA, Harry Winston helps ensure that more young people around the world have the chance to discover their potential and shape their own entrepreneurial paths. Learn more about Harry Winston's philanthropic efforts at harrywinston.com/en/philanthropy.
ALUMNI NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES
JA ALUMNI TAKE CENTER STAGE ON 2 MINUTE DRILL
JA alumni stepped onto the 2 Minute Drill stage for an exclusive JA alumni-only episode for the show’s seventh season. In addition to remarkable companies, they brought bold ideas, sharp storytelling, and the kind of confidence that comes from gaining real entrepreneurial experience. Hosted by entrepreneur and JA USA alumnus David Meltzer, the episode challenged five alumni to pitch their ventures in only 120 seconds. Each founder walked onto the set knowing the stakes: communicate a clear vision, demonstrate real value, and compete for US$50,000 in funding and mentorship. Sarah Rapp, JA Worldwide's Director of Youth Advocacy and People, also served as a judge on the episode. Watch the episode and find out which inspiring JA alumnus took home the prize.
JA USA RELEASES 2026 ALUMNI REPORT
Junior Achievement USA, working with global marketing research firm Ipsos, conducted a survey of Gen Y and Gen Z JA alumni in the United States to learn more about the influence of their Junior Achievement experience on their lives. This report summarizes the findings of that research, covering areas related to economic mobility, including growth mindset, post-secondary education and training, career choices, business ownership, and more. Read the report.
ALUMNI LEADING ACROSS REGIONS, CONNECTED BY PURPOSE
As we wrap up 2025, we’re looking back at the five powerful Alumni Leaders Academy Global sessions that brought alumni voices, regional leadership, and global connection into focus.
Led by JA alumni in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and MENA, these sessions highlighted what happens when alumni lead with purpose, adaptability, and collaboration:
JA Americas alumni highlighted resilience, cross-border collaboration, and momentum across the region, culminating in the official launch of the JA Americas Regional Alumni Board and new pathways for alumni leadership.
JA Asia Pacific alumni launched the Global Alumni Leaders Academy sessions this year with a focus on inclusion, regional collaboration, and shared learning, spotlighting alumni-led impact and setting the tone for a connected global community.
JA Africa alumni explored how resilience and collective action drive stronger communities.
JA Alumni Europe showcased the strength of connection across borders, with alumni networks scaling local initiatives into continental impact.
INJAZ Al-Arab/JA MENA alumni closed the first global cycle with creativity and bold thinking, reimagining alumni leadership through an interactive courtroom experience.
Together, these moments reflect the heart of the Alumni Leaders Academy Global: shared learning, regional pride, and a growing global JA alumni movement.
Dive into the full recaps and stories from each session . . .
Session 1, Americas: jaworldwide.org/news/ala-global-ja-americas-2025
Session 2, Asia Pacific: jaworldwide.org/news/ala-global-asia-pacific-2025
Session 3, Africa: jaworldwide.org/news/ala-global-africa-2025
Session 4, Europe: jaworldwide.org/news/ala-global-europe-2025
Session 5, MENA: jaworldwide.org/news/ala-global-mena-2025
REGIONAL UPDATES
JA AFRICA
JA Mascareignes marked its 15th anniversary with a celebration that reflected the depth of its impact and the strength of its community, bringing together partners, alumni, staff, and regional leaders to recognize a shared commitment to youth empowerment. The event honored the leadership and long-serving team members who have guided and sustained the organization over the past decade and a half, while also spotlighting young people at the center of the mission, including JA Mascareignes’ Company of the Year winners and engaged alumni whose journeys demonstrate the lasting value of JA experiences. With participation from across the global JA network and local leaders, the gathering served as both a moment of reflection and a reaffirmation of purpose, underscoring how strong partnerships, dedicated leadership, and alumni engagement continue to expand opportunity for young people as JA Mascareignes looks ahead to its next chapter.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA
In February, Junior Achievement USA will launch its “Education for What’s Next” campaign nationwide. The approach better positions JA as a catalyst for students’ economic mobility—the ability of one generation to do as well or better than the previous generation—despite a rapidly changing economy affected by unprecedented technological and global changes. Watch JA USA CEO Jack Harris summarize the challenge and hear JA’s response.
JA AMERICAS
JA Americas is implementing Pathway to Employment, a regional initiative supported by Arcos Dorados, one of the largest youth employers in Latin America. The program focuses on young people aged 18 to 25 who are neither studying nor employed in Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru, supporting their first steps into the world of work.
Launched in August 2025, the initiative aims to reach 900 young people in vulnerable situations in Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, and Lima. To date, 290 participants have completed the training, strengthening their vocational clarity and socio-emotional readiness for employment.
Measured outcomes show clear progress: participants reported greater confidence for job interviews, a stronger understanding of workplace expectations, and an improved ability to identify job opportunities, increasing from 63% to 85%. These results have already translated into action, with the first participants hired at McDonald’s restaurants. This confirms that when training is aligned with private-sector commitment, pathways to formal employment become tangible.
“The program helped me understand how to build my résumé and gain confidence, because I was very shy,” says Jazmín, a Pathway to Employment participant in Buenos Aires. “It motivated me to keep looking for a job and avoid feeling stuck. It also encouraged me to finish school, and I’m now preparing to complete the three remaining subjects from high school.”
Local partnerships with community organizations and leaders strengthen the initiative by supporting young people throughout their journeys. Pathway to Employment goes beyond training: it connects learning with real opportunities and shows how coordinated action between education and employers can open doors for young people, their families, and their communities across the region.
JA ASIA PACIFIC
JA Asia Pacific is pleased to announce a new regional collaboration with LEGO, supported by a grant to pilot a play-based learning program in the Republic of Korea and India. The pilot program will engage approximately 1,800 elementary school students and build the capacity of at least 50 teachers through a play-based curriculum developed by JA Asia Pacific. This collaboration marks a first for the global JA network, building on the strong foundation established by JA China, which has worked closely with LEGO at a national level over the past three years. By leveraging this success, JA Asia Pacific has expanded the partnership to include additional markets and broaden its regional impact. Through hands-on, playful learning experiences, the program aims to inspire creativity, strengthen problem-solving skills, and equip educators with innovative classroom practices.
JA EUROPE
The AIENTR4YOUTH initiative has been included in the published Policy Pointers from the OECD-OCDE and the European Commission's Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy (YEPA) report. It provides actionable policy pointers to help governments design more inclusive, effective, and future-ready support systems for young entrepreneurs. Read the report.
At the YEPA closing, co-led by the European Commission and OECD, JA Europe's Irina Ilieva joined the CEOs of JA Czech Republic, JA Latvia, JA Malta, and JA Estonia, alongside local authorities, ecosystem builders, and young entrepreneurs from across Europe. Together, they showcased how JA’s education-to-enterprise model can shape more effective youth entrepreneurship policies and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. YEPA’s next phase focuses on implementation—and JA remains a key partner in ensuring every young person with a good idea has the chance to succeed.
The AI-ENTR4YOUTH policy recommendations outline how AI and entrepreneurship education can be integrated into school and VET systems to strengthen future-ready skills, inclusion, and innovation across Europe. Read the policy recommendations on AI, entrepreneurship, and education. The recommendations have been developed based on pilot implementations across Spain, Italy, and Portugal, where young people turned real-world problems into AI-powered ideas with impact. Watch the video and discover how the next generation is shaping the future of work. Watch the video.
The EmPass microcredential has been showcased at #ILOFest2025 in Korea. Effie Papazisi from JA Europe is coordinating the EU-funded project, EMPASS. The Global Youth Employment Forum brought youth voices to the forefront through dialogue and collaboration on inclusive employment, workers' rights, and a shared Youth Employment Call to Action. Read more.
INJAZ AL-ARAB/JA MENA
In December, INJAZ Al-Arab launched the second year of a partnership with Nestlé in both the UAE and Kuwait and expanded the initiative to a new market in Doha, Qatar. The initiative empowers youth to design innovative, business-driven solutions to critical sustainability challenges, aligned with the Green Agenda 2030, the Circular Economy Policy, the COP28 legacy, and the UN Global Goals (SDGs). Its success has been enabled through the collaboration of key government and private sector partners, including the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Climate Change, and Majra in the UAE; the Ministry of Environment and Earthna in Doha; and Zain Telecommunications in Kuwait. INJAZ alumni from the first year of the program joined the launch events, sharing their stories and insights to inspire the next cohort of young changemakers.