JA Europe’s impactful work, supported by the Citi Foundation, serves as a powerful example of how forward-thinking initiatives can drive change.
For more than two decades, the Citi Foundation has supported Junior Achievement (JA) Europe’s mission, recognising the value of JA’s work to inspire and equip young Europeans to build thriving communities and help them navigate the rapidly moving world.
Engaging Young People in a Changing Europe
The 1990s in Europe were marked by high youth unemployment rates and a pressing need for youth empowerment. The shift towards a market economy led to economic instability and political and social transitions in various European countries. This created a complex environment for young people seeking employment opportunities and meaningful societal engagement.
In response to these challenges, JA Europe and the Citi Foundation saw the critical importance of supporting young people strengthen their financial literacy. This shared understanding laid the foundation for a new initiative focused on driving meaningful and lasting change by addressing the specific needs and capacity-building challenges of European youth.
“The Citi Foundation has been one of the most engaged supporters of JA Europe’s strategy and mission, constantly encouraging our team to go further in service of young people across the region. The Citi Foundation has been working with JA from leadership to grassroots, acting as a catalyst for JA to shape us into what we are today.” – Diana Filip, Deputy CEO and Chief Development Officer, JA Europe.
Evolution of the Needs, Approach and Support
In the early days of our collaboration, the Citi Foundation funded and fueled the delivery of JA Banks in Action programme, which equipped students with the financial knowledge and skills they needed to make the most of their financial resources and function in the global economy. As the needs of young people in Europe grew, the effort expanded to include programmes like My Finance and Personal Economics. Moving forward, the Citi Foundation and JA Europe recognised the importance of adapting programmes to the local realities and job market needs in each country. This led to further focus on listening to local JA Chapters, empowering them to take the lead on adapting the curriculum of the programmes. Through a combination of Citi Foundation philanthropic investments and Citi employee volunteers, the emphasis of efforts shifted to JA’s Company Programme, a powerful “learning by doing” programme, preparing young people for the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Through deliberate alignment efforts throughout the years, more than 70% of the students involved came from underserved groups and more than half of all beneficiaries were girls, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. This progress was underpinned by extensive regional alignment, reflecting a concerted effort to tailor programmes to the specific needs of each community.
Looking back at the past years, , our collaboration has played a role in shaping the future of close to 900,000 students across 20 countries in Europe, allowing over 2,200 Citi volunteer engagements.
“JA Europe has found in the Citi Foundation a catalyst for positive change, and an ally in our mission to empower young people across Europe. With their support, our innovative approach has set a new standard for impactful corporate and foundation engagement, driving meaningful transformation in the lives of our future leaders”, said Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe.
Changing Lives: Stories of Impact
The results of our collaboration are not just seen in numbers but also in the personal stories of those whose lives have been directly impacted and changed forever. One such story is that of Azad Ali, a refugee from Kurdistan who found success through the JA Company Programme in Sweden.
Azad came to Sweden as a 17-year-old. His parents were killed by terrorists in Kurdistan when Azad was nine years old. He fled his home country at the age of 13. After arriving in the small town of Nybro, Sweden, Azad studied craftsmanship in high school and was introduced to Junior Achievement Sweden’s Company Programme in 2017.
“When I started the programme, I had no idea it would change my life. I’m competitive by nature and thought that the idea of developing a product and participating in a competition with it was motivating,” Azad recalls of his first experiences with the Junior Achievement program in Sweden.
Azad is one of the 800,000 students who have participated in the JA financial literacy and youth entrepreneurship programmes supported by the Citi Foundation, most recently through its Pathways to Progress initiative.
Today, Azad is a successful entrepreneur, scaling up his furniture production company, and is also inspiring others. Since his days as a student in the Company Programme, Azad has travelled around Sweden, speaking about his life journey and becoming a successful entrepreneur – no matter your background.
Legacy of Citi Foundation’s Support
The Citi Foundation’s dedication and support have not only helped to propel JA’s remarkable evolution from a small organisation to a global influencer but have also ignited a spark of hope for the six million young lives that JA Europe impacts every year.
“We are proud of the legacy created by our support for JA Europe, equipping young people from underserved communities with the skills and networks needed to succeed in today’s rapidly changing economy. Young people supported throughout these years are now shaping the world. Their stories show us that, through trust, collaboration and incorporating youth voices, we can all help build more resilient and equitable communities.” – Rachael Barber, Director, International Community Programs, UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Citi.
