News
From Virtual Learning to Real World Innovation
What happens when curiosity meets opportunity? For learners in JA South Africa's STEM²D Virtual Innovation Camp, the journey extended beyond the virtual classroom and into the world of science, technology, engineering, and innovation. Discover how a unique partnership with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is inspiring the next generation of problem solvers to imagine boldly, innovate confidently, and see themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.
Celebrating the Educators Who Inspire Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs
Behind every successful young entrepreneur is an educator who believed in their potential. On June 10, JA South Africa brought together the principals, heads of department, champion teachers and partner who have helped make the Company Program Plus a life changing experience for thousands of learners.
Hosted at the InterContinental Hotel at O.R. Tambo Airport, the Principal Appreciation Brunch celebrated the dedication, leadership, and collaboration that continue to strengthen entrepreneurship education across South Africa.
Celebrating Achievement At Soweto Diepkloof Welfare Centre
Itirele Foundation Charitable Trust beneficiaries celebrate a significant milestone.
Success deserves to be celebrated and on 17 July 2026, JA South Africa had the privilege of doing just that at the Soweto Diepkloof Welfare Centre. Beneficiaries from the Itirele Foundation were presented with certificates in recognition of their commitment, perseverance and successful completion of their learning journey.
Every certificate represented more than the completion of a program. It symbolized personal growth, new knowledge and the confidence to pursue future opportunities. Celebrating these milestones reinforces our belief that investing in young people and recognizing their achievements inspires them to continue striving for excellence.
Strengthening Partnerships and Expanding Impact
Creating lasting impact starts with strong partnerships and empowered educators. Throughout July, JA South Africa strengthened community partnerships and equipped teachers across the country with the tools to deliver quality learning experiences.
From engaging with the South African Samaritan Organization (SASO) in the Free State to training educators in KwaZulu-Natal on the Be Internet Awesome program and the Regent Food Truck Challenge, these efforts are helping more young people build the skills they need to succeed.
Turning School Holidays Into Learning Opportunities
Investing Time, Sharing Knowledge, Inspiring Possibility
What if the most valuable lessons of the school holidays were not found in a classroom? Throughout Mandela Month, young people across South Africa spent their winter break exploring new ideas, building essential life skills, and learning from professionals who generously shared their time and experiences. Discover how communities came together to turn school holidays into opportunities for growth.
Making Financial Literacy Fun: Our Holiday Kahoot! Challenge
This winter holiday, learning became a game, and the rewards went far beyond prizes. Young people from across the country chose to spend their school break strengthening their financial knowledge through JA South Africa's first More Than Money Kahoot! Challenge. Meet our first champion and discover how curiosity, competition, and financial literacy came together to inspire smarter money habits.
Breaking Barriers while Building Success
Determination can open doors, but the right opportunity can change a life. Meet Elisa Moremi, founder of ELI NKONE ENGINEERING (Pty) Ltd, whose entrepreneurial journey is breaking barriers in South Africa's engineering sector. Learn how the Mastercard Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program Plus helped strengthen her business and how you can help her take the next step.
Leading The Conversation On South Africa's Youth
Youth Month created an important opportunity to reflect on the future of South Africa's young people, and JA South Africa was proud to be part of the national conversation.
Throughout June, Executive Director Nelo P. Spies shared insights on youth employment, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness across leading media platforms, including Power 98.7, YFM, BizCommunity, and the Business Day Youth Month special edition.
Together, these conversations reinforced a simple but important message: preparing young people for tomorrow requires us to rethink how we educate, support, and invest in them today.
Strengthening A Global Network of Impact
The challenges facing young people may differ from one country to another, but the goal remains remarkably consistent.
Across the world, educators, partners, and youth development organizations are working toward the same outcome: equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly complex world.
One of the greatest strengths of the Junior Achievement network lies in its ability to learn from one another. By sharing ideas, experiences, and best practices across countries, local organizations are able to strengthen their impact while remaining responsive to the unique needs of the communities they serve.
The Power Of Seeing What's Possible
Opportunity has the power to change lives, but only when it is within reach.
For many young people, the biggest barrier to employment, entrepreneurship, or further education is not a lack of ambition. It is limited access to information, networks, mentors, and experiences that help them see what is possible and understand how to get there.
Creating opportunities therefore means more than offering programs. It means bringing those opportunities closer to the communities that need them most.
Opening Doors Through Digital Learning Partnerships
The future is becoming increasingly digital.
From education and entrepreneurship to employment and communication, technology continues to shape how people live, work, and connect with the world around them. Yet for many young people, access to digital skills remains uneven, limiting opportunities to fully participate in an evolving economy.
Closing this gap requires more than technology alone. It requires collaboration between organizations that share a commitment to preparing young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
When Opportunity Extends Beyond the Program
Every program has a finish line, but the real impact begins with what comes next.
This month, 30 graduates of JA South Africa's Social Equity Program took an important step into the world of work through a partnership with ProAmelia Production, securing employment opportunities that will allow them to gain valuable workplace experience and begin building their careers.
Their achievement is a powerful reminder that creating opportunities for young people requires more than equipping them with skills. It requires partnerships that believe in their potential and are willing to invest in it.
Developing The Next Generation Of African Innovators
This Youth month, we celebrate JA South Africa alumna Keisha Jamane, who represented South Africa in the African Leadership Academy's AI for Africa Program. Bringing together emerging leaders from across the continent, the program explored how artificial intelligence can be applied to solve real world challenges while encouraging participants to think critically about the opportunities and responsibilities that come with new technologies.
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries around the world, experiences like these ensure that African youth are not simply adapting to change, but helping lead it.
JA South Africa Expands Board to Drive Youth Impact
JA South Africa Welcomes Kamini Redhi and Nthatisi Quella to Its Board of Directors
The strength of an organization is often measured not only by the programs it delivers, but by the leadership that helps guide its vision for the future.
As JA South Africa continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, strong governance and diverse perspectives remain essential to achieving its mission of preparing young people for success through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness education.
Entrepreneurship As a Pathway to Opportunity
How the Youth Enterprise Development Program Plus Is Helping Young Women Turn Ideas Into Opportunity
Entrepreneurship is often described as starting a business. In reality, it begins much earlier.
It starts with recognizing an opportunity where others see a challenge. It requires the confidence to explore an idea, the willingness to take initiative, and the belief that it is possible to create something of value.
Digital Access Is About More Than Technology
How Partnerships Are Expanding Opportunities for Young People Across South Africa
The conversation around digital access often begins with technology. Devices, connectivity, and platforms tend to dominate the discussion. Yet the real value of digital access extends far beyond infrastructure. It is ultimately about opportunity.
From Learning About Money To Putting It Into Practice
Financial literacy is often measured by what people know. But its real value is reflected in what people do.
Understanding concepts such as budgeting, saving, and responsible spending is important. Yet financial education becomes most meaningful when young people have the opportunity to apply those lessons in real situations and see the results for themselves.
Building Businesses For A Changing World
The challenges facing today's generation look very different from those faced by those who came before them.
Climate change, resource constraints, economic uncertainty, and rising social inequality are no longer distant concepts discussed only in policy documents or global forums. They are realities that increasingly shape the communities where young people live, learn, and work.
Preparing young people for the future therefore requires more than teaching traditional business skills. It requires helping them understand how innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability can work together to address complex challenges and create meaningful opportunities.
The Future Takes The Stage
The Junior Achievement South Africa National Company of the Year Awards brought together bright young innovators from across the country, and now their stories are reaching screens nationwide and beyond through S3’s Expresso Morning Show.
Inspiring The Next Generation of Leaders
How do we prepare young South Africans for a changing world? In the latest “Young, Bold and Business-Savvy” feature on Kaya 959, our Executive Director Nelo Phindile Spies joined Govan Whittles to share how Junior Achievement South Africa is doing that.
Investec’s #Give4Impact Empowers Over 300 Grade 8 Learners With Financial Literacy Skills
Thanks to the continued support of Investec’s #Give4Impact Employee Contributions, Junior Achievement South Africa successfully implemented the JA More Than Money program at Moletsane High School in Soweto.
Future-Ready: JA South Africa & Microsoft Teach Youth AI Skills
JA South Africa has officially partnered with Microsoft to empower over 5,000 young South Africans with essential career skills in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). This groundbreaking initiative is designed to introduce youth to the foundational principles of AI and how these technologies are transforming various career paths across industries.
Building Thriving Communities Through Youth Empowerment: The Story of Julius Mabunda and Many More
At Junior Achievement South Africa (JA South Africa), we firmly believe that empowered youth are the heartbeat of thriving communities. In April and May 2025, with the generous support of Sasfin Private Bank, we successfully implemented the Youth Enterprise Development Program (YEDP) and the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program in Mamelodi, Pretoria. These initiatives equipped 70 out-of-school youth at the Entokozweni Resource Centre with practical entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and invaluable mentorship.
Umqhele Secondary Market Day Inspires Entrepreneurship Thanks To Cummins South Africa
In partnership with Cummins South Africa, we witnessed the entrepreneurial spirit come to life at Umqhele Secondary School during a dynamic Market Day event. Learners from Grades 9 and 10 proudly showcased their business ideas, applying what they had learned through the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program, made possible through the support of Cummins South Africa.
JA South Africa & ABSA Group Kick Off 2025 Company Program
Johannesburg, South Africa – 19 May 2025 – JA (Junior Achievement) South Africa and Absa Group are proud to mark the successful continuation of their partnership with the launch of the second year of the JA Company of the year program (formerly known as Enterprise Program Plus EP+). The JA Company program is JA’s flagship program that equips high school learners with essential entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness skills.
21,000 SA Youth To Gain Entrepreneurial Skills To Help Build Resilient Communities
Friday, 16 May 2025: Johannesburg, South Africa – Junior Achievement (JA) South Africa in partnership with the Z Zurich Foundation, is excited to announce the third year of the JA Social Equity Program (SEP). The program, now in its third year, has equipped over 17 000 youth with skills needed to drive social change, foster entrepreneurship, and build resilient communities, culminating in its final year, the program is set to reach 21 000 South African youth across the country.