"Junior Vision" Ready to Compete at European Youth Entrepreneurship Competition

Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:54

Belgrade, July 21: Student company “Junior Vision,” from Arilje High School “Sveti Ahilej,” traveled to Cagliari, Italy, on July 19 to compete against the best student companies from 38 European countries at the Junior Achievement European Best Company Competition July 20-23.

“Junior Vision” earned its place at the European Finals by beating 20 other Serbian student companies at the May 25 Junior Achievement Serbia Best Student Competition. Entry into the European competition was stiff: At the national level, “Junior Vision” competed against 100 similar student companies; in Cagliari it will face 38 out of more than 4,000 student companies that participated in the competition across Europe.

A leading Serbian fruit juice manufacturer “Nektar” and premium real-estate manager “Airport City” joined Junior Achievement Serbia and Serbian Ministry of Environment Protection and Spatial Planning to sponsor the students’ attempt to win the European title.

These five high school students participated in the Junior Achievement program supported by USAID’s PPES Program and built their company, “Junior Vision,” to manufacture eco-friendly waste baskets and a matchbook-size pad of chewing gum disposal tissues. They currently have contracts with two municipal governments to produce waste baskets and their chewing gum tissues are a hit among cafe and restaurant owners. “Junior Vision” uses a portion of its profits for a nonprofit subsidiary that raises additional funds to support a local home for children with special needs.

Unheard of only a few years ago, Junior Achievement programs like the Best Student Company Competition flourish across Serbia. Last year alone, 4,750 high school students in Serbia learned basic business skills and the principles of entrepreneurship through JAS programs, offering valuable business experience.

In Serbia, where two out of every five young people ages 15 to 30 are unemployed, JA introduces skills and knowledge in demand in the modern global workforce. Junior Achievement Serbia activities supported by USAID, “Nektar” and “Airport City” help young people become a driving force for a new economy in Serbia.

For More Information:

USAID PPES Junior Achievement Activity

(please contact our Communications Office):

www.scopes-serbia.org/index.php/en/contactus

Junior Achievement Serbia:

www.ja-serbia.org/

United States Agency for International Development - Mission in Serbia

Serbia.usaid.gov/

Other Relevant Links:

Nectar Company

www.nectar.rs

Airpot City