Constructing a Strong
Economic Future in China
JA China experienced phenomenal growth in 2008-09, reaching 520,643* young people, marking a 56-percent increase over the previous year.
Its programs have garnered support from stakeholders in China’s government, business, education and nonprofit sectors, all of whom believe in the transformative power of JA among today’s Chinese youth.
Over three decades ago, China began to transition from a central to a market-based economy, marking a profound economic transformation. As a result, China is now a global economic power; the role it plays in the global economy along with its domestic economic progress, has driven a second economic transformation, from a manufacturing-based to a serviced-based market economy.
However, progress has also led to challenges. Although the government has successfully increased the standard of living, lifting millions out of poverty, the People’s Republic of China is still considered a lower middle-income nation in per capita terms, according to recent statistics. Its approximately 1.3 billion citizens face challenges in building a stable economy, including a shrinking job market, economic disparity, mass migration, and environmental damage, exacerbated by the nation’s rapid transformation and the global recession. JA China believes that investing in human resources now will address these critical issues in the future, as its programs help provide the future generation with the character, creativity and leadership to achieve success in China’s increasingly competitive globalized economy. In addition, JA China imparts young people with the awareness and skills necessary for addressing critical social and environmental challenges.
“As our economy becomes increasingly globalized, China needs to equip its future business talent with a global vision, strong sense of integrity and capacity to innovate,” says Ms. Gao Yang, JA China’s executive director.
JA China currently implements 19 Junior Achievement programs and events in more than 500 schools in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Suzhou. Since launching its operation in 1993, JA China has made remarkable progress with programs that encourage social and environmental responsibility, as well as the development of entrepreneurship and work readiness.
One of JA China’s biggest successes is the government-endorsed Laws of Life program. According to China’s Minister of Education, Mr. Yuan Guiren, Laws of Life “highlights the importance of character education to the whole society.” The program focuses on building positive life values through the development of ethical consciousness and responsibility. In 2008, JA China was awarded a three-year US $1.5 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation to expand Laws of Life in China, and in 2008-09, 472,125 students from 933 middle schools, including many from migrant and low-income families, participated in the program. Participants were asked to articulate their core values and to reflect upon the people and experiences that helped shape them. More than 800,000 students have participated in the contest over the past five years.
JA China’s outreach also includes helping young people build their entrepreneurial skills through such programs as International Marketplace and JA Company Program.
JA’s programs are especially relevant in China now. The Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security reports that the official 2009 jobless rate of 4.2 percent (that is 8.86 million registered unemployed, excluding migrant workers and farmers) is likely to rise.
“With the money-management, work-readiness and entrepreneurial skills young people can develop through JA participation, they can create their own success and contribute to constructing a healthy global economy,” said Gao Yang.
Teaching Tomorrow’s Business Leaders about Protecting the Environment
In 2008-09, JA China developed its first program to help K-12 students understand environmental challenges and sustainable development from an economic perspective. “JA China has initiated a three-year implementation plan for JA Our City: Teaching Environmentally Sustainable Business Practices to reach 30,000 students. We reached 3,490 students in this first year,” said Gao Yang. This innovative program for third-grade students earned JA China a 2009 MetLife Foundation Entrepreneurial Award and a cash prize of US $25,000 to support program expansion.
