Delta Air Lines has expanded its global support of Junior Achievement (JA) by partnering with the organization in Africa. The airline will sponsor JA Africa’s Innovation Camps and Company of the Year (COY) programmes in Lagos, Nigeria, and Dakar, Senegal, over the next 12 months.
“We have seen the benefits young people gain from Junior Achievement initiatives and extending Delta’s association to more of our global markets will enable a greater number of students to achieve their academic and career goals,” said Bobby Bryan, Delta’s Commercial Director East and West Africa. “We are looking forward to working with the organization and hopefully inspiring more young people to consider a career in aviation.”
The COY programme is the signature showcase for both JA and the high school students who complete the initial JA Company Program®. The annual event allows young people to demonstrate in a competitive environment how their business and entrepreneurial acumen will engage business, education and policy leaders. The Company Programme empowers groups of young people aged 15-19 to set up and run a real business over the course of an academic year. They make all the decisions about their business, from deciding on the company name and product, to creating a business plan, managing their finances and selling their products. The winners from the Lagos and Dakar national competitions, along with twelve other countries where the scheme runs, will be invited to take part in the African final later this year in Johannesburg.
“We are honoured to have received this grant from Delta Air Lines. Delta has been among JA’s strongest supporters globally, contributing significantly to our mission around the world. We are excited to continue our partnership with Delta to promote youth economic empowerment in Africa” said Elizabeth Bintliff, CEO of JA Africa.
JA’s Innovation Camps, meanwhile, provide a forum for students to address a specific business challenge and work in groups to find ways to overcome the issue at hand. During the one-day camp, the team members may not know each other but will have to adapt quickly and find out how to work together most efficiently and effectively. Through this, they learn new skills including problem solving, communication, team building and troubleshooting. The Innovation Camps offer an experiential learning environment for students based on a real-life business situation.
Globally, Delta partners with 29 Junior Achievement organisations and its affiliates, including those in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom as part of the airline’s commitment to donate one percent of profits to charity in 2017. Elsewhere in Africa, Delta supports the Ghana Red Cross, Breast Care International and the Amy Foundation in South Africa. It also established an internship programme for promising young people at its offices in East and West Africa including Lagos and Dakar.
