is an exciting initiative driven by the private sector that creates a new generation of business-oriented youth who will become entrepreneurs and the employees of choice of corporations, instead of joining the growing ranks of the unemployed. It is part of the international organization Junior Achievement Worldwide, in which 7.5 million students participated in 116 countries in 2006.
Each semester, business leaders send staff into local schools and universities. For an hour each week, these corporate volunteers share their professional experience, know-how, and success stories with Arab youth, giving them practical training to succeed in the private sector. In six semesters, students progress from learning how to manage their own budgets to how to follow stocks in the newspaper. They learn about competition, marketing, and how the banking sector supports businesses and industries. While setting up community projects, they develop skills in leadership, planning, and teamwork. They gain other success skills in giving presentations, CV writing, and job hunting.
The last semester, each class sets up an enterprise in the “Company Course”. In 15 weeks they come up with an idea, study its feasibility, sell stocks, divide into management teams, make a business plan, produce and sell a product or service, and liquidate the company, often with dividends.
After three years, students graduate with confidence in their abilities, a vision of their career, and skills to succeed in the private sector. They also have a network of six volunteers from various professional backgrounds to call on for help.
In the meantime, those who have succeeded in the private sector have the chance to give a helping hand to the next generation. This exciting experience to inspire, lead, and become a role model for students brings them in close touch with the youth of their community. As the idea catches on, it grows into a national movement, led by top businessmen, in partnership with the ministry of education.
The first Arab country to join this movement was Jordan in 1999 where 1,400 volunteers from the private sector are now teaching 50,000 students in government schools and universities. Lebanon followed in 2001 and Egypt in 2003. In 2004, Bahrain was the first country to participate in the GCC. The West Bank, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE launched programs in 2005. This academic year, 90,000 students are participating in the Arab World, with a target to reach one million by 2015.
With support of Jordan’s Queen Rania as regional ambassador, INJAZ al-Arab will be introduced to the rest of the Arab World over the next two years. This has been made possible by seed money from Citigroup, ExxonMobil, HSBC, Intel, Boeing and MEPI and to the 100 local businessmen who have taken over the reins to lead it forth in their countries.
Student Enrollment in the Arab World
Academic Year 2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
2006-2007
Jordan
26,000
38,338
42,128
50,000
Lebanon
3,000
4,829
5,695
7,500
Egypt
601
4,050
13,027
16,000
Bahrain
0
1,053
1,838
4,840
West Bank
0
493
2,275
6,000
UAE
0
0
862
2,720
Kuwait
0
115
535
1,500
Oman
0
0
212
4,000
Iraq
0
0
570
uncertain
Qatar
0
0
0
200
Morocco
0
0
0
300
Saudi Arabia
0
0
0
100
Total
29,601
48,878
67,142
93,160
