Fostering the can-do spirit

Over the years, JA China has worked with 5.59 million Chinese students to help them with job readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship through various programs and hands-on experience.

Job Shadow Day, an academically motivating activity, gives students an up-close look at the world of work and answers the question: "Why do I have to learn this?" YESxBOP, Youth Enterprise Solutions for China's Bottom of the Pyramid, challenges young people to develop innovative business strategies to change the lives of low-income communities in China.

One of its courses, JA Economics, has been included as part of the high school curriculum by the Beijing education authority, says Chou.

According Asheesh Advani, president and CEO of JA Worldwide, the organization's mission is preparing young people for the future. To achieve that, they have developed ways to equip students with self-efficacy, a term that comes from US psychologist Albert Bandura's research.

"Self-efficacy means believing you will succeed. Once you believe you will succeed, your chance of succeeding goes up," says Advani.

"We believe that you can actually learn that you will succeed because the skills in the future are so unpredictable. Self-belief is a multiplier that allows you to learn whatever you need to change."

Founded in 1919, JA Worldwide is one of the world's largest youth-serving NGOs. It has a network of over 470,000 volunteers serving more than 10 million students in over 100 countries and regions.

Lin Fugang joined his college's JA team during his sophomore year. He worked as project manager for his school team and organized events for JA Beijing.

"I spent three-quarters of my college years with JA China; most of my achievements derive from it," says the 21-year-old international trade major at Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

"It's a bridge between campus and the real world, which prepared me in terms of career development."

Lin currently interns at JA China's Beijing office, instead of going directly to graduate school as his peers did. He believes the experience will be a springboard for his future success.

The company has also hosted a series of international activities to help students broaden their horizons and develop a global perspective.

In March, for the first time, JA China will host the Junior Achievement Asia Pacific Company of the Year competition in Beijing, which involves more than 450,000 students a year globally.

Students from different regions are expected to run their own businesses with support from volunteers from their local business community and compete against each other.

"I think this is an opportunity for not only the Chinese teams to host everyone, but also for the other teams to come to China," says Advani.

"Entrepreneurship is a means for peace, and entrepreneurship is the means for true global cooperation."

Contact the writer at zhangzefeng@chinadaily.com.cn