Inspiring Entrepreneurship in Russia
With the help of 35,000 volunteers from the business sector,
JA Russia has impacted more than 8.5 million young people since its launch.
The strength of the global marketplace may
fluctuate, but Junior Achievement continues
to grow steadily in scope and impact,
supplying solutions, options and inspiration
to students across the globe and across the
economic spectrum. The expansion of Junior
Achievement in Russia is a dynamic example
of the organization's student empowerment
mission in action.
Endorsed by the Russian Federation's
government, Junior Achievement Russia
is making a real difference as the country's
primary provider of economic tools for young
people. Starting in 1991 with just three
Moscow-based programs, JA Russia—a
member of JA-YE Europe—is now the
second-largest JA operation in the world.
With the help of 35,000 volunteers from the
business sector, JA Russia reaches more
than one million students annually. It has
impacted more than 8.5 million young people
since its launch.
JA Russia is particularly proud of
the widespread popularity of Global
Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), which it has
hosted each November since 2008.
In two short years, JA Russia's GEW activities
have familiarized nearly 800,000 young
Russians with the opportunities available
in the 21st-century global marketplace. In
2009, nearly 11,000 enthusiastic partners
and supporters helped JA Russia provide
more than 19,000 GEW online and face-toface
events and competitions—all targeting
inspiring entrepreneurship—for 454,000
young participants.
The JA Russia board and staff are working
hard to meet the increasing demand for
Junior Achievement. "JA Russia has achieved
good economy of scale and has managed to
stretch its resources to cover an enormous
geography (across nine time zones) and a
great deal of cultural and economic diversity,"
said Nina Kuznetsova, CEO of JA Russia. "Our ultimate goal is to help young people
across Russia develop the key skills they'll
need to be successful entrepreneurs or
enterprising employees, and to recognize the
realities and rewards of participation in the
global economy. By enhancing the relevancy
of education, Junior Achievement empowers
innovation and future economic success."