On International Women's Day, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of women and girls worldwide. A cornerstone of these successes is education, particularly in financial literacy, which empowers individuals to make informed decisions and secure brighter futures. In the Asia Pacific region, Junior Achievement (JA) stands at the forefront of this mission, dedicating substantial efforts to educate and uplift young women.
Junior Achievement, a global non-profit organization, focuses on preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. In the Asia Pacific region, JA's initiatives have reached millions, with a significant emphasis on young women. Through tailored programs, JA addresses the unique challenges faced by girls and women, equipping them with essential financial skills and knowledge.
Educating girls in financial literacy doesn't just benefit the individual; it creates a ripple effect that uplifts entire communities. Financially literate women are more likely to invest in their children's education, contribute to local economies, and participate in decision-making processes. This cycle of empowerment leads to sustainable development and societal growth.
Corporate partnerships that support JA's efforts to educate girls in the Asia Pacific region
In Indonesia, Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) and the Caterpillar Foundation launched "Girls Exploring STEM," equipping high school girls with essential STEM skills. Through expert-led sessions, participants learned cutting-edge technologies like coding, augmented reality, and virtual reality. The program culminated in a Bootcamp where students engaged with industry pioneers and applied STEM solutions to real-world challenges. This initiative empowered girls to pursue STEM careers, fostering a more diverse and inclusive future workforce. PJI and Amazon Web Services hosted "Girls' Tech Day" to empower young women in STEAM. The program which was conducted for three years, featured inspiring talks from female tech leaders and hands-on projects with robotics, coding, and AI. It provided equitable access to STEAM education, fostering future female technology leaders.
Lancôme partnered with JA Hong Kong to bring the "Lancôme Write Your Future" program that empowered young women to narrate their own destinies by expanding their network and perspectives, and helping them recognize their potential to positively impact their communities and the world.
JA Philippines and EY GDS Philippines collaborated on "EY STEM Learning," promoting the EY STEM Application to empower Junior and Senior High School girls. This innovative program fosters learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through a gamified mobile platform, making STEM education engaging, interactive, and impactful for young women. EduComics, a groundbreaking program by JA Philippines and Johnson & Johnson, brings STEM to life through engaging, visually compelling comics that spark curiosity in young learners. By blending education and storytelling, it makes STEM concepts accessible and exciting, breaking gender stereotypes and inspiring future scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Johnson & Johnson’s WiSTEM²D (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design) initiative is transforming the landscape for young women across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia by fostering inclusivity, education, and empowerment. In the Philippines, WiSTEM²D "Bridges" supports young women with disabilities, providing tailored resources and PWD sensitivity training to create equitable career pathways. In Indonesia, WiSTEM²D: "Menstrual Hygiene Education" tackles menstrual poverty, equipping girls with crucial reproductive health knowledge through expert-led sessions. Meanwhile, a "Career Discovery Day" and the "Sustainable Innovation Challenge" held by JA Malaysia inspire students to explore STEM²D through hands-on learning and innovation.
JA Asia Pacific's dedication to educating girls and women in the region is a testament to the profound impact of financial literacy. These efforts not only transform individual lives but also strengthen communities and economies. On this International Women's Day, let's commit to advancing financial education for all, fostering a world where every woman has the opportunity to succeed.