NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
December 11th 2016
For More Information, Contact:
Maame Yankah
Junior Achievement Africa
+233 577 680 373
maame.yankah@jaf
Junior Achievement KENYA Teens Win the 2016 FedEx Access Award
FedEx recognizes teen entrepreneurs for innovative business plan
to drive job creation and protect the environment
ZIMBABWE, HARARE, December 8th — At the 2016 JA Africa Regional Company of the Year Competition held December 7-9 in Harare, Zimbabwe, student-run company MULCOO won the FedEx Access Award, presented by FedEx Corp. The student company, as evaluated by a special FedEx panel of business experts, presented the best business plan that demonstrates how they have taken risks to build new connections and bring about change by developing and launching innovative products and services that can succeed in the global marketplace, create jobs and build new wealth in their communities, and connect to new markets.
To be eligible for the FedEx Access Award, a Junior Achievement student company was required to be one of the finalist teams competing at JA Africa’s Regional Company of the Year Competition. The teen entrepreneurs completed additional sessions on the concept and impact of global access, a program developed by FedEx which complements JA Company Program®. The JA student company that created a marketing plan for a product or service that best demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of global access took top honors.
“At FedEx, we’re passionate about making the connections that improve lives,” said David Ross, FedEx Express Regional President, MEISA (Middle East, India Subcontinent and Africa), “We believe global connectivity allows ideas and solutions to surface from anywhere, energizing the marketplace. This is especially important in parts of the world where people desire access to the education, goods, services and jobs that lead to a better life. These young entrepreneurs have demonstrated they understand how their businesses can create those connections, providing access to opportunities around the world. I congratulate MULCOO on their winning business strategy.”
MULCOO, who represented Junior Achievement Kenya, produces a functional but stylish multipurpose bag (the “Wing Bag”) that infuses the properties of both a raincoat and a bag. The bag was designed mainly for school going children, to ensure they are never caught unprepared by rain.
“The name MULCOO is an acronym for Multipurpose, Convenient and Comfortable. Winning the FedEx Access Award is a great honor for our company. We have taken it as a challenge to improve our company by scaling to greater heights, now that we have learnt the pillars of global connectivity.” Natasha Ndunge, CEO of MULCOO proudly stated.
JA Africa’s Regional Company of the Year Competition is a contest of business skills, ingenuity and innovation that focuses on the accomplishments of U.S. JA Company Program students, ages 15-19, during the 2015-2016 academic year. Currently reaching nearly 180,000 African students annually, JA Company Program gives teens the opportunity to start and run their own businesses under the mentorship of a local business volunteer. For the 2015-16 school year, JA Company Program was migrated to an online, blended learning platform in countries like South Africa.
About Junior Achievement:
Junior Achievement is one of the largest global NGOs dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their futures and own their economic success. Through the delivery of cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we effectively broaden the canvas of possibility for young people and enrich their ability to both engage in their own economic development and contribute to the strength of their families, communities, and economies. With more than 100 member countries, the JA Worldwide network is powered by over 450,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 10 million young people around the world every year.
About the Access Award
In conjunction with the JA Global Student Company of the Year competition, students compete for the FedEx Global Access Award. To be eligible for the FedEx Access Award, a student company must be one of the finalists selected to compete at the JA Africa Regional Company of the Year Competition. Student company members must complete a seminar conducted by FedEx on the idea and impact of global access. The FedEx Access Award is given to the JA student company which best demonstrates their understanding and application of global access, leveraging international trade to create jobs, grow small businesses, expand global development and improve the environment. To read about Access, FedEx and Junior Achievement in a World Economic Forum report click here.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $58 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 400,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com .
