FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2022
JA of Greater Fairfield County
JA Worldwide Nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize;
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County Celebrates this Prestigious Honor
We are proud to announce that JA Worldwide has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County (JAGFC), a member of the global JA network, has been serving young people in the greater Fairfield County region for over 70 years, equipping them with the skillset and mindset to create sustainable businesses, find meaningful employment, and build thriving communities.
Nominations may be received only from heads of state and certain elected officials, university professors in selected fields, past Nobel laureates, and a few other notable individuals. Although the identity of each nominee officially remains anonymous for 50 years, JA Worldwide received permission to share that JA was nominated by a distinguished Professor of Law and International Affairs who was impressed by our global reach, our success in delivering economic empowerment experiences to youth at scale, and our ability to find unity in diversity. For centuries, unemployment and poverty have led to political instability, violence, and war. By economically empowering youth on all continents, JA serves a conduit for peace.
Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide, shared his perspective in response to the nomination: “Peace is only possible when youth in all countries and regions have economic empowerment. JA Worldwide is honored to receive this nomination and will continue our work to enable all young people to have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. Our primary hope for solving the world’s most complex problems rests in the young people of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow.”
JAGFC President, Bernadine Venditto, adds: “This is an incredible honor. Thanks to our dedicated board members, volunteers, educational partners, and supporters, we bring life-changing resources and experiences to local youth. This nomination demonstrates the impact that JA areas across the world are making collectively. We are building a brighter tomorrow, one student at a time.”
Although all other Nobel prizes are awarded in Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, assisted by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which acts as its secretariat. Grete Nykkelmo, CEO of JA Norway (Ungt Entreprenørskap), responded to the news in this way: “We are delighted to share in this recognition as a proud member of the JA Worldwide network. Our unique blend of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness enables us to impact individuals, communities, and society. Peace is achieved when young people have economic opportunity, and we are honored that JA has been recognized alongside other nominees that are striving for a more peaceful world.”
About Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County (JAGFC) is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed, through programs which focus on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Learning experiences, delivered by corporate and community volunteers, provide essential business and life skills, which empower K-12 students to build their own successful futures and help to boost economic mobility. JA programs are designed to meet the needs of local schools and students, through in-person or remote learning. JAGFC is committed to delivering practical, relevant, and innovative learning experiences that prepare young people to succeed in their careers and to manage their personal finances.
About JA Worldwide
As one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs, JA Worldwide prepares young people for employment and entrepreneurship. For over 100 years, JA has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Each year, our network of over 590,000 volunteers and teachers serves more than 10 million students in over 100 countries. Visit jaworldwide.org.
Contact
Michael J. London & Associates
203-261-1549
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