JA Alumni News: October 2023

Published on October 19, 2023

Dear JA alumnus,

The JA Global Leadership Conference (GLC) October 23–26, is a free, open, virtual event for JA staff, focusing on functional training in organizational resilience, people development and alumni, learning experiences and technology, and brand. This year, we have a special opportunity for JA alumni. On October 24, we invite you to join us for the following two sessions—"From Vision to Reality: Regional Alumni Leaders and Their Impact” and “How to Gather.”

You can find out more about the two sessions and register for either or both at gatheralumni.org.

Warm regards,

Howard Leong | Global Alumni Ambassador

FOR THE GLOBE

January 2024 JA Alumni Clubhouse
Join us January 17 at 9amEST/3pmCET/10pmHKT to brainstorm and exchange ideas on best practices for building your local alumni chapter. You’ll also get early access to JA alumni opportunities that you can share with your network.
RSVP to attend the JA Alumni Clubhouse. We can’t wait to see you on January 17.

Wrapping up September 2023 JA Alumni Clubhouse

In the September 2023 JA Alumni Clubhouse, we have representatives from all over the world—23 from Europe, 19 from Africa, 15 from Asia Pacific, 9 from the Americas, 4 from USA, and 4 from the Middle East and North Africa. Our attendees have more than tripled since our first JA Alumni Clubhouse in December 2022.

We had speakers from all parts of the world, including . . .

Love Dager, Hack for Earth | Sweden
Sarah Ongam Apio, Global Student Prize 2023 Finalist | Uganda
Mame Maty Gning, Global Student Prize 2023 Finalist | France
Loran Geskens, President of JA Alumni Europe | Vienna
Jonas Dreier, Vice President of JA Alumni Europe | Denmark
Sophia Zhao, President of JA Southeast Texas | USA
Nelly Cetera, President of JA Americas Alumni | Argentina
Stevia Putri, President of Prestasi Junior Indonesia Alumni | Indonesia
Bongi Ntshalintshali, President of JA Eswatini Alumni | Eswatini
Raheel AlAbbasi, Alumni Community Manager | Bahrain

If you missed it, you can find the recording of the session here.

JA Alumni Among Top 50 Finalists for Global Student Prize

Chegg.org and the Varkey Foundation have announced the top 50 finalists for the 2023 Global Student Prize, and we’re thrilled to share that two of them are JA alumni.

The Global Student Prize, a sister award to the renowned Global Teacher Prize, recognizes exceptional students making a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers, and on society. One winner will receive US$100,000. The Varkey Foundation and Chegg.org established the prize to create a powerful platform to showcase extraordinary students reshaping our world for the better. The award is open to students around the world who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills program. Part-time students, as well as students enrolled in online courses, are also eligible for the prize.

Read more of their stories in the Alumni Spotlight section.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Imade Iyamu, President of JA Nigeria Alumni, Named the Top Two of 2023 Women Future Leaders by Involve UK & YouTube
Imade is the first JA Nigeria Alumni President. As an MBA candidate at Columbia University, Imade initiated Future Women Africa, a scholarship for African women from underrepresented backgrounds in business. Prior to joining the Asset and Wealth Management division at Goldman Sachs this year, Imade was an instructor at Yale University under Yale Young African Scholars, where she mentored young African girls to make a meaningful impact in Africa.

JA Alumni Europe Conference 2023 One Big Network
Under the theme “One Big Network," JA Alumni Europe held its 2023 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, August 23–27. Hosted by JA Alumni Lithuania, the conference brought together JA Alumni Europe community members, building connections, overcoming challenges, and envisioning the future. Alumni attended thought-provoking keynotes, inspiring workshops, and interactive sessions and enjoyed myriad networking opportunities. Read the recap of the conference here.

JA Zimbabwe Alumni Launched the "COY and Project Management Mentorship Program"
Godfree Saruchera, President of JA Zimbabwe Alumni (fourth on the left), led his team to launch a “COY and Project Management Mentorship Program” throughout Zimbabwe. The team is training JA alumni who volunteered to become mentors in the program to provide a cohesive environment for JA students to learn.

Interested in mentoring the next generation of leaders? Contact Godfree on Gather.

JA Alumni in Guam Gathered for a Beach Clean-up
With azure waters and pristine shores as their backdrop, 40 JA alumni united for a beach clean-up at Fujita Beach on September 30. Some JA Company Program students also volunteered and played beach games involving teamwork to bond with each other. This is one of the initiatives by JA Guam Alumni to incorporate JA alumni elements early in students' journeys with JA.

JA Alumni Denmark 20th Anniversary Celebration
JA Alumni Denmark is celebrating its 20th year of founding on October 28. JA alumni across Europe will gather for a cocktail party and network with fellow alumni and entrepreneurs. Get your ticket on gatheralumni.org.

Alumni Christmas Weekend in Vienna, Austria

JA Alumni Austria is hosting JA alumni in Vienna for a three-day, two-night gathering for Christmas Weekend. Tickets are selling out fast; get yours on gatheralumni.org.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Sarah Ongom Apio, JA Uganda Alumni

Sarah first participated in JA through the Tide Turners Challenge, a collaboration between JA Africa and the UN that asked young people to imagine ways to reduce plastics. Then, in 2020, she won the JA Superfan Challenge. Growing up in a developing country, she experienced firsthand the devastating effects of poverty and inequality on her family and community. Her financial struggles took a toll on her mental health and academic performance. However, she persevered and emerged as an academic achiever and a mentor to her peers. This year, she has been named to the top 50 finalists for the Global Student Prize.

Mame Maty Gning, JA Alumni France

Mame participated in the JA Company Program through JA Italy, and her student company won third place in the provincial Company of the Year competition. She continued to grow and strengthen her entrepreneurial skillset through JA Italy’s Girls in STEM program and, along with several classmates, created a company called ValeU. ValeU produces and sells hijabs and West African clothing for the West African and Muslim communities in Italy. Showing these communities that they are not alone in a country where they are minorities is important to Mame, who herself is an African immigrant, having moved from Senegal to Italy at four years old. In June 2022, Mame presented her company and its products to the JA Worldwide Board of Governors meeting held in Milan, hosted by JA Italy. This year, she has been named to the top 50 finalists for the Global Student Prize.