In mid February , Blerina Guga, CEO of Junior Achievement of Albania, and Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide, discussed the growing importance of entrepreneurship education on Wake Up on Top Channel. JAA CEO, shared the experiential approach implemented by Junior Achievement of Albania in education, that focuses on hands-on learning, entrepreneurial thinking, and the development of essential soft skills, while also strengthening the capacity of teachers to deliver modern, experiential education. She also stated the importance of the strategic investment and support of the Albanian American Development Foundation and the institutional partnership with the Ministry of Education and its line institutions and agencies
Thanks to this support, Junior Achievement programs have reached 100% penetration across the Albanian education system, from preschool to preuniversity, making Albania a unique case within the global Junior Achievement network.
Speaking about the global perspective, Asheesh Advani noted that Junior Achievement Worldwide operates in more than 125 countries and has over a century of experience in preparing young people for entrepreneurship and job readiness. Notably, the organization has also been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize, most recently in 2025, recognizing its global contribution to empowering youth through education and economic opportunity.
“Albania stands out globally,” Advani emphasized, noting that it is the only country within the JA network that has achieved full penetration of entrepreneurship education in its targeted education system through social impact investment.
He described the JA of Albania model as an example worth sharing internationally, explaining that leaders across the global network have been invited to learn from the experience and achievements of Junior Achievement Albania. Globally, Junior Achievement Worldwide aims to reach around 10% of the world’s youth population, impacting over 100 million young people through programs that promote entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career readiness.
“The world is changing rapidly, and people will likely have many different careers during their lifetime,” he noted. “What matters most is the confidence to move from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’—the belief that you can change, adapt, and succeed.” Advani emphasized that such confidence can be developed through experiential learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship education, which encourage young people to experiment, learn from failure, and build resilience.
Through its growing ecosystem of programs and partnerships, Junior Achievement of Albania continues to play a leading role in equipping young people in Albania with the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in the future economy.
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