THE second annual Junior Achievement Company of Entrepreneurs (JACE) Conference is set for June 27-July 1 at the University of the West Indies

(UWI), Mona campus. This year, accounting

firm Ernst and Young has come on board as

the main sponsor, to bring off what is

expected to be a spectacular series

of events.

Over the five-day period, an exclusive contingent of 80 young people from over 30 schools and community-based organisations across the island, will be involved in a series of workshops, seminars, exhibits and competitions. This year, the Junior Achievement Jamaica (JAJ) team has decided to focus on innovation and technology as the central theme for the conference.

“Our students need to be ready to compete globally. This conference is another way that Junior Achievement Jamaica is helping the nation’s youth to exceed expectations,” said Alphie Mullings-Aiken, president of JAJ.

The participants were selected from a batch of 750 students who were involved in a six-month experiential learning experience in running their own small businesses, where the participants developed and sold products ranging from craft materials to professional services.

Throughout the programme, participants will be engaged in several learning opportunities in the form of: seminars, competitions and an entrepreneurial expo at Devon House on June 29th. Their products and those of several sponsors including: Microsoft, Scotiabank, UWI, and Jamaica Yellow Pages, will be on display at the event.

These activities have been designed to further prepare them to be successful leaders in society. Several high-profile individuals will be delivering presentations and adjudicating various competitions at the conference. The list of speakers include: Bruce Bowen, president and chief executive officer of Scotiabank; Michelle English, president and chief operating officer of Flow; veteran media specialist and author, Marcia Forbes and many others.

Awards Banquet

The title of the prestigious Junior Achievement/Ernst & Young Company of the Year and a plethora of sectional awards such as best marketing, finance, public relations, human resource and production team are all up for grabs at the annual JACE awards to be held this Saturday June 30 at UWI, Mona. Ardenne High School took the top prize last year.

JAJ partnered with the Ministry of Education and the United States Agency for International Development in the execution of its programmes aimed at empowering young people to own their economic success. Power 106, Jamaica Producers and Caribbean Broilers have also partnered to make this year’s staging of the JACE conference a success.