By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Sacred Hearts Secondary School, Kiterede in Masaka region was on Thursday announced the grand prize winners of Junior Academy Company of the year awards 2024.
In a ceremony held on June 27, Sacred Heart SS through their initiated company, Eco Dynamics JA Company took home the grand prize and a cheque worth UShs1,00,000 after their projected outcompeted those showcased by other schools.
The JA Company Program, supported by Boeing and the Project Management Educational Institute Foundation (PMIEF), encourages high school students to develop sustainable business projects and promotes financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship. JA Uganda has a proven track record of inspiring young entrepreneurs, with over 130,000 learners impacted since 2008.
Eleven student-founded companies from nine schools presented their projects at the awards ceremony, showcasing innovative solutions to real-world problems. Eco Dynamics JA Company impressed the judges with their sustainable business model and commitment to environmental conservation.
Racheal Mwagale, the JA Uganda Executive director thanked the funders for making an impactful contribution to the empowerment of Uganda’s young people with financial literacy skills.
“Financial literacy is not just about understanding dollars and cents; it’s about empowering our young people to make informed decisions, to plan for their futures, and to build a foundation of financial stability and success,” she said.
She added that, “through the training programs, our participants have learned the importance of budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding the dynamics of credit and debt. They have also developed a keen sense of entrepreneurship and the confidence to navigate the financial challenges of the modern world.”
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, Boeing president in the Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central Asia, said: “We are delighted to extend our existing partnership with Junior Achievement Africa to Uganda. By nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset early on, we empower students to become proactive contributors to the economy and society, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The environmental and social aspect of the program helps the youth with integrating sustainable practices from the get-go.”
The Minister of State for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo who was repressed by the Assistant Commissioner for Private Schools and Institutions, George Mutekanga praised Junior Achievement Uganda for empowering young people with entrepreneurship skills and knowledge.
“This program aligns with our new approach to education, focusing on work readiness, business management, and innovation,” he said.
“What Junior Achievement Uganda and Africa are demonstrating in empowering young people with entrepreneurship skills and knowledge is commendable. This is beefing up our new approach to our education system in the new curriculum,” he said.
He also commended JA Uganda for their efforts in shaping the future of Uganda’s young generation in work readiness, business management, project planning and innovation.
“The current challenges the world is facing require innovative approaches in addressing them and that is what Junior Achievement is doing.”
The winning team will receive support from the government to prepare for the regional competition in Mauritius where they will represent Uganda at the JA Africa Regional Company of the Year competition.
“What we now need to do as the government is to see how best the winning team can be supported. They will first have a courtesy meeting with the Minister, and we will ensure that they will receive all the support they will require,” he said.
This year’s awards ceremony coincided with World Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day, highlighting the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and sustainable development.
