Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – “Juggly JA” a JA student-company team representing Junior Achievement of Ecuador, won the 2010 FedEx Access Award at the Americas Region JA Company of the Year Competition held December 9-12 in Rio de Janeiro. Seventeen teen-run companies represented 13 countries from Central and South America and the Caribbean, at the event. www.ja.org.
The teen entrepreneurs successfully produced and marketed “foot bags” (hacky-sacks) made from 100 percent Ecuadorian sourced, biodegradable materials. The company sold its product at an eco-friendly trade expo, and—as evaluated by a special FedEx jury—presented the best business plan with the potential to create jobs, grow small business, expand global development and improve the environment. The company incorporated social responsibility by providing jobs to underprivileged women, by donating product to a local children’s nonprofit, and by donating food and hygiene items to Haitian relief organizations.
“When you give people access to more products and goods around the world, the pie expands and people’s living standards increase,” says FedEx Chairman and JA Business Hall of Fame inductee Frederick W. Smith. “The FedEx Access Initiative helps Junior Achievement students understand the impact of global access to create high-paying jobs, grow small and medium-sized business, and to benefit our world’s environment.”
The competition celebrates of the accomplishments of JA Company Program® students, ages 15-19, in the Americas Region (South America, Central America and the Caribbean). During participation in JA Company Program, students start and run their own businesses with support from volunteers from their local business community. They devise and market a product with the goal of realizing a profit for their shareholders. The program currently impacts more than 360,000 students a year globally.
To be eligible for the FedEx Access Award, a student company must be one of the 20 finalists selected to compete at the Americas Region JA Student Company of the Year Competition. In addition, company members must attend a one-session Access seminar developed JA Worldwide in cooperation with FedEx to educate students on the power of globalization and access. The student company whose business plan best demonstrates the best application of access, such as job creation or global development, takes top honors.
“This FedEx Global Access Award is an exciting opportunity for Junior Achievement student company members to participate in an unrivaled entrepreneurial experience that emphasizes the value of acquiring solid business and teamwork skills and global market strategies,” said Sean C. Rush, president and chief executive officer of JA Worldwide. “They also have the opportunity to create connections and share ideas with other JA students, while learning to demonstrate innovative thinking and leadership. FedEx and JA are working together to empower students to own their future economic success in the 21st-century global marketplace.”
About JA Worldwide® (Junior Achievement)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 126 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional 5.7 million students served by operations in 122 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit
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 $37 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 285,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.