JA Worldwide Launches Youth Voices

July 4, 2022

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Youth Voices! Powered by JA Worldwide, Cortico, MIT Center for Constructive Communication (CCC), and Accenture, Youth Voices is a collection of firsthand experiences from 100+ JA Worldwide students and alumni across 45+ countries.

Every three years, JA Worldwide develops a strategic plan that guides our growth and priorities. For the first time, we’ve invited young people—both alumni and non-alumni—to be a part of the process as JA Youth Advisors. The project, which ultimately resulted in Youth Voices, enabled us to obtain qualitative impact measures, look at trends and themes from youth as related to our strategic plan, and create a repository of youth voices and impact stories. Key outcomes included not only informing the strategic plan of JA Worldwide but also establishing JA Worldwide as a connector of youth voices.

In April, JA Youth Advisors served as facilitators of discussion groups for the Youth Voices project. “Being a facilitator for the Youth Voices project was an exhilarating experience,” said Raheel Alabbasi, an INJAZ Bahrain alumnus. “I was able to showcase my ability as a leader, as well as a member of the global youth community. I was empowered to share my experiences and actively listen to the experiences of others. This allowed me to connect with the participants and facilitators on a deeper level, creating a new layer for the networking process that we, as youth, aim to have.”

Megan Konvicka, JA USA alumnus, agrees: “We're all very passionate about JA's cause, and are working toward this common goal of making sure that everybody has the opportunity to learn what we learned from JA. Knowing there are people working toward the same goal makes my heart very full.”

Outcomes and Insights

Analysis of more than 40 hours of conversations revealed six key insights: self-efficacy, impact, values, youth empowerment, thriving communities, and learning experiences.

• Self-Efficacy: JA’s theory of change is rooted in improving self-efficacy in youth. That is, helping young people move from “I can’t“ to “I can.”
  Sub-themes: Skills Acquisition, Role Models, Practicing Optimism, Supportive Belief

• Impact: We measure JA’s impact on several dimensions, whether our alumni go on to incubate social movements, build small businesses, improve their employability, or simply practice financial health.
  Sub-themes: Global Citizen Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Innovation & Creativity Skills, Technology Skills.

• Learning Experiences: Through JA’s hands-on learning experiences, students develop a skillset of both hard and soft skills and foster an entrepreneurial mindset that provides economic agency and empowerment.
  Sub-themes: Digital Experiences, Youth & Alumni Gatherings, In-Person Experiences

• Learning Experiences: Through JA’s hands-on learning experiences, students develop a skillset of both hard and soft skills and foster an entrepreneurial mindset that provides economic agency and empowerment.
  Sub-themes: Digital Experiences, Youth & Alumni Gatherings, In-Person Experiences

• Thriving Communities: We envision a world in which young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities.
  Sub-themes: Connection, Resilience

• Youth Empowerment: JA teaches young people—through hands-on, immersive learning—how to solve problems, work toward a goal, and own their economic success.
  Sub-themes: Agitating For Change, Setting & Achieving Goals, Realizing Economic Empowerment

• Values: Practiced daily by JA staff, volunteers, board members, and teachers, our six values have stood the test of time.
  Sub-themes: Believe In Youth, Immersive Learning, Sustainability, Work Ethic, Diversity & Inclusion, Collaboration

Visit Youth Voices to learn more and hear from these inspiring young people. Sort by insight, region, or conversation; read about the process; and find out more about the project at youthvoices.org.