3rd Annual 'INJAZ UAE Company Program Competition' concludes with 8 student companies showcasing their entrepreneurial skills

Dubai, UAE, 31st May 201:  Eight student companies made it through the final round yesterday arriving at the annual INJAZ UAE Company Program Competition to see the 'Glights team' winning the top award of 'Best Student Company of the Year 2011'and 'Best Marketing Plan'.  The winning team will represent the UAE at the regional level competing against 14 counterparts from across the Arab world in October of this year.

The annual competition was an exciting real-life experience for 55 high school students who reached this stage after taking The JA Company Program.  With the help of volunteers and mentors, it provides an unprecedented opportunity for students to learn key entrepreneurial concepts and skills that enable them to adopt innovative and creative thinking to establish their own small scale business ventures. The high-impact program endorses self-employment as a practical career option. 

Other winners on the night included Amal Omar for "CEO of the Year" from Al Salam School, "Most Innovative Product" to team Jeanags, demonstrating that all can have different successful roles in their professional future. 

The event was held in partnership with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and sponsored by Boeing and ExxonMobil to emphasize the public-private role in supporting such initiatives. Commenting on the goal of the program and event, Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nehayan, Chairman of the Bin Zayed Group and Chairman of INJAZ-UAE, "Entrepreneurship education is at the forefront of the Middle East agenda and it is vital for students to be presented with as many experiences and opportunities as possible to prepare them for the workplace. This requires a collaborative effort between educators and the private sector to fill the gap in this area and we're pleased INJAZ UAE can play a positive role facilitating that. It was truly difficult to single out individuals when excellence was the norm, but the team gave a truly remarkable portrayal of their brilliant mentors."

Judging the competition were Muna Al Gurg, Director of Retail at Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group and Chairwoman of Young Arab Leaders UAE, Anas Bukhash, Managing partner at Ahdaaf Sports Club, Mishaal Al Gergawi, Current affairs commentator, and Dr. Hassan Dawood, Deputy CEO at AlSayegh Media-UAE.

Each an entrepreneur in their own right, they took the time to assess the student's entrepreneurial skills in four stages offering key insights, feedback, and professional advice that left the students with lessons for a lifetime.  The 'Glights' team took the top accolade after impressing the judges with their sustainable business which sought to produce an outdoor environment friendly solar light that helps reduce pollution. The team was mentored by Intel Corporation volunteers who spent 6months working with the students on the planning and development of their business.

The winning team, 'Glights' from Al Salam School were co-mentored by Tamer Shabana and Nawras Sawsou from Intel Corporation.

"In order for today's students to be successful in today's global economy, they must be armed with more than basic skills," commented Tamer Shabana. "The INJAZ Company Program provides a great platform to help students become proficient at 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, self-direction, and communication. We are thrilled that the team from Al Salam School that we mentored won the UAE competition and we wish them the best of luck for the MENA INJAZ Al-Arab Company Program Competition in Abu Dhabi," he added.

Sulaf Saleh Al-Zu'bi, CEO of INJAZ UAE, said, "I am proud of our students, and volunteers as each of them showed a willingness to collaborate with spirit and deliver as a team. The students feel empowered today and can hopefully go on to become successful entrepreneurs and professionals now that they have tried their hand at starting and managing something.  Thanks to our partners also, we were able to offer this important internationally renowned program in the UAE."

The competition was hosted at Dubai Knowledge Village and witnessed VIP dignitaries, business leaders and professionals, private sector volunteers, parents, and other stakeholders.

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About INJAZ-UAE:
INJAZ-UAE is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world's largest non-profit business education organization. INJAZ-UAE is a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers - working together to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. INJAZ-UAE and its regional partner, INJAZ Al-Arab, mobilize the private sector to help create a new generation of motivated and professional graduates by sending corporate volunteers to classrooms across MENA to train youth in success skills, entrepreneurship and financial literacy -- narrowing the gap between students and the world of work. The organization targets 11-22 year-old students. INJAZ UAE is led by a national board of business leaders who share a common ideal for youth and provide overall direction, funding and good governance.  

For more information, please visit www.injaz-uae.org

About JA Worldwide™:
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization committed to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Now in its 90th year, JA Worldwide provides hands-on, experiential learning in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness to 9.3 million students annually.  With 510 local offices in 123 countries - and an extensive network of partners from the private and public sectors - JA Worldwide mobilizes a global force of business volunteers to teach in-school and after-school programs that give students the tools they need today, to succeed tomorrow. These programs show young people how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs, which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.  Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities. 

For more information, please visit www.ja.org.

© Press Release 2011