CAIRO: Junior Achievement (JA) INJAZ Egypt won a 2012 MetLife Foundation Entrepreneurial Award and a $25,000 grant for developing and demonstrating an outstanding innovation to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in young people. The JA operation was one of eight to receive this honor at the recent Junior Achievement USA National Leadership Conference held in Grand Rapids, Mich. Junior Achievement and MetLife Foundation have partnered for the more than 10 years on the awards program, which honors innovation and entrepreneurship at the local level and provides funding to expand those efforts. INJAZ Egypt Entrepreneurship Pipeline Project is the name of Junior Achievement of Egypt's winning program. This innovation focuses on generating real sustainable businesses by transforming our Company Program and Competition into an entrepreneurship pipeline. In 2011, 10 Company Program companies won private sector incubation and seed funding and entered our new Start-Up program, which mentors them through legal registration, increasing competiveness and sustainability. “JA operations play a vital role in preparing young people to succeed in a global economy and in life," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to join JA in honoring INJAZ Egypt for exemplary innovation and entrepreneurship, which are helping increase its reach and impact on young people." “Thanks to MetLife Foundation for recognizing the innovation and creativity of INJAZ Egypt Entrepreneurship Pipeline Project, and showing the strong alignment between core JA concepts and the business world,” said Dina El Mofty, Executive Director. “MetLife Foundation's investment in Junior Achievement demonstrates its commitment to JA's ability to empower young people to own their economic success.” Building on its 92-year legacy, Junior Achievement continues to deliver innovation to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The MetLife Foundation Entrepreneurial Award is a significant way to recognize—and inspire—innovation across JA through funding current programs promoting entrepreneurship.
