Junior Achievement Kenya Launches Social Innovation Relay Program to Empower High School Students in Partnership with NCBA Bank Kenya

Nairobi- Junior Achievement Kenya, a leading nonprofit organization in inspiring and preparing youth through its entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness programs, has launched this year’s program to empower high school students to succeed in their future endeavors. The program was launched at an event attended by students, educators, and partners on 4th March 2023, held at The University of Nairobi.

The event took place at the University of Nairobi, Taifa Hall, and it was attended by over 600 high school students from more than 30 schools in Nairobi and its environs, representatives from NCBA Bank Kenya, our partners, Junior Achievement Program Alumni, and the Project Management Institute Kenya chapter.  

The Social Innovation Relay(SIR) is a competition that gives startup students an opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial thinking and engage in a contest with other startups. Junior Achievement Kenya has partnered with NCBA (then NIC Bank) since 2016 in the SIR Program and has since reached more than 13,000 students across 115 secondary schools in collaboration with 12 private sector partners. The program is made for high school startups a chance to compete in the global arena.

The program aims to provide high school students with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their interests and achieve their goals. "We are excited to launch this program and help prepare the next generation of leaders," said James Mahondo, Program Manager at Junior Achievement (JA) Kenya.

The keynote speech, which was presented by Ms. Caroline Wangari on behalf of the NCBA Group Director of Marketing, Communication, and Citizenship Ms. Nelly Wainaina, also addressed the students and shared his experience of using innovation to solve social problems. "We believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and we want to provide them with the tools they need to succeed," Caroline Wangari, NCBA Bank.

The launch event featured a series of activities, including a trivia session where students were able to play against each other and engage with each other in answering questions that are related to the Sustainable Development Goals. The other students also cheered their schools on.

"We are thrilled to partner with Junior Achievement (JA) Kenya on this important initiative," said Jacklyn Makanda, Project Management Institute.  

The competition brings together experienced business mentors and students to advance real-world social problem-solving in their local communities and beyond. JA Kenya alumni were well represented at the event and took to the stage to speak to the students on the journey with the program in the previous years and their current careers, to motivate them to do better.

This year the SIR competition will run under the theme “Breaking Barriers”. This theme encourages students to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to obstacles or challenges that they may face in their communities or in the world.

The theme highlights the need for change and innovation to overcome social, economic, and environmental challenges that exist in the world. It encourages young people to think outside the box and find creative solutions to the issues that affect their communities.

Overall, the launch event was a huge success, and it set the tone for an exciting competition. The students were enthusiastic and engaged throughout the event, and the partners' support was crucial in creating an environment that fosters innovation and creativity.

The launch event ended with a JA Kenya Program Manager taking the students through the Ideation Process, which was an interactive session that enabled the students to answer and ask questions in preparation for the competition.

The program is open to all high school students in the country and will be offered through the Junior Achievement Clubs in the respective schools. Interested students and educators can learn more about the program and how to get involved by visiting the JA Kenya website.

About Junior Achievement Kenya:

As one of the largest youth-serving NGOs, JA Kenya activates youth for future jobs. Through the delivery of hands-on, blended learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we empower young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.