INJAZ Al-Arab
Founded | 2004 |
---|---|
Location | |
Area served | MENA |
Website | www.injazalarab.com |
INJAZ Al-Arab (Arabic: إنجاز العرب) is a non-profit organization that drives youth education and training in workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship across the Arab World. INJAZ Al-Arab is the Regional Operating Center of JA Worldwide (JAW),[1] one of the largest global non-governmental organizations dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges facing young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own the economic success. Over 2 million students have participated in a broad base of entrepreneurship training opportunities aimed at developing basic business skills to start and run their own businesses while obtaining soft skills increasingly demanded by the private sector. INJAZ Al-Arab has over 22,000 committed classroom volunteers, who are leaders from the corporate world.[2] INJAZ Al-Arab has a Regional Board of Directors, which comprises 24 accomplished executives that manage some of the world’s foremost companies and institutions, as well as a team of staff, led by Akef Aqrabawi, President and CEO of Middle East/North Africa for Junior Achievement Worldwide. INJAZ Al-Arab. [3][4][5]
History
INJAZ Al-Arab began its work in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region in 1999 and joining Junior Achievement, established its regional office in 2004. Since joining JA, and under INJAZ Al-Arab's founder and former CEO Soraya Salti's leadership, INJAZ grew in program availability, student participation, and reach. Today, it operates in 14 countries as a federation of national operations. INJAZ Al-Arab's network includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
With its establishment in 1919 to prepare young US immigrants for the workforce, Junior Achievement is rooted in a history of responding to societal needs. Its global network of 122 countries is powered by more than 450,000 volunteers and mentors, from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million youth around the world every year.[6]
Mission
"By developing relevant, hands on training and mentoring programs for Arab youth and connecting them to business leaders to serve as teachers and role models, INJAZ strives to accelerate young people’s ability to contribute to the economic development of their nations and regions by becoming business leaders and entrepreneurs of their local communities."[7]
INJAZ Al-Arab's programs focus on three core areas of business education which are:
- Work Readiness: The widespread mismatch between the skills attained in school and those demanded by the private sector are feeding current youth unemployment rates. INJAZ Al-Arab programs build teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and leadership skills employers look for.
- Financial Literacy: Teaching young people about responsible money management is key to building their own financial security and an economically prosperous future for themselves.
- Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship education prepares youth to be responsible, enterprising individuals. Immersing them in real life learning experiences allows them to take measured risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes. This growing number of youth led enterprises creates new jobs and fuels economic development.[8]
Vision
To inspire and prepare a generation of Arab youth to utilize their natural talents, inspiration, passion and determination to become the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.[9]
Sponsors
The Abraaj Group, Bin Zayed Group, Gulf Bank, MBC Group, ALECSO, Boeing, HSBC, NBK, Alghanim Industries, Citi Foundation, Intel, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Amwal,The Coca Cola Foundation, J.P. Morgan & Co., Skoll Foundation, Aramex, Deloitte, Kravis Prize, The Bank of New York Mellon, ExxonMobil, FedEx, MasterCard, Marriott International, Investcorp.[10]
Knowledge Partners
ALECSO, Bayt, Deloitte, DLA Piper, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, McKinsey & Company, Meysan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Visual Laundry, World Economic Forum, World Bank, YouGov, Engie.[11]
Awards
INJAZ Al-Arab and Soraya Salti, former CEO, was awarded The Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonprofit Leadership in 2012.[12]
INJAZ Al-Arab, along with six other organizations throughout the world, was awarded the Skoll Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in 2009.[13]
A 2012 study supported by Citi Foundation by professors from Harvard and Dubai School of Government found that INJAZ Al-Arab alumni have a significantly shorter waiting period than other youth while searching for jobs after graduation. [14]
Named one of the top 100 NGOs in the world by The Global Journal for two consecutive years (2012, 2013), INJAZ Al-Arab has influenced the lives of over 2 million students since its inception in 2004.[15]
INJAZ Al-Arab in the News
Queen Rania of Jordan is an avid supporter of INJAZ Al-Arab. In 2015, she chaired a discussion with entrepreneurs in celebration of INJAZ Al-Arab's 10th anniversary, showcasing alumni's success stories.[16][17][18]
INJAZ Al-Arab is frequent in the Skoll Foundation website, whose mission is to drive large-scale change by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs and the innovators who help them solve the world’s most pressing problems. [19]
INJAZ Al-Arab has been mentioned several times in The Skoll World Forum Online, a year-round platform that focuses on a variety of areas, including education and economic opportunity. The Skoll World Forum Online is affiliated with the Skoll Foundation. Akef Aqrabawi, President and CEO of Middle East/North Africa for Junior Achievement Worldwide. INJAZ Al-Arab has also been featured on the website. [20] [21]
Soraya Salti, who has also been awarded the Skoll Foundation Award in 2009, has been listed as a social entrepreneur with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. According to Schwab, social entrepreneurs drive social innovation and transformation in various fields including education, health, environment and enterprise development. [22]
Social Media Channels
References
- ^ "JA Worldwide". JA Worldwide. 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ Al-Arab". INJAZ Al-Arab. 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ Al-Arab's Staff". INJAZ Al-Arab. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ Al-Arab's Board of Directors". INJAZ Al-Arab. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "AKEF AQRABAWI, CEO, INJAZ AL-ARAB". Skoll World Forum Online. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Potential Unlocked" (PDF). JA Worldwide. 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ Al-Arab: Missions, Visions and Values". INJAZ Al-Arab. 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "JA's Core Content". JA Worldwide. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ Al-Arab: Missions, Visions and Values". INJAZ Al-Arab. 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "Regional Partners". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Regional Partners". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Soraya Salti & INJAZ Al-Arab". The Kravis Prize in Non-Profit Leadership. 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "Skoll Foundation Adds Seven Organizations to its Portfolio of Leading Social Entrepreneurs". Skoll Foundation. 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Unlocking Arab Youth Entrepreneurship Potential" (PDF). 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "#96 INJAZ Al-Arab". The Global Journal. 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ "Queen Rania". Forbes. August 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Queen Rania chairs a discussion with entrepreneurs from INJAZ Al-Arab celebrating its 10th anniversary". Queen Rania Al Abdullah. January 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Jordan's queen leads event in praise of Injaz Al-Arab's success". The Kravis Prize in Non-Profit Leadership. January 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ AL-ARAB". Skoll Foundation. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "AKEF AQRABAWI, CEO, INJAZ AL-ARAB". Skoll World Forum Online. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "INJAZ AL-ARAB". Skoll World Forum Online. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Soraya Salti". Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Retrieved 28 May 2015.