Junior Achievement of South-Central Pennsylvania PA (USA)

Junior Achievement of South-Central Pennsylvania PA 

Junior Achievement of South-Central PA’s mission is to prepare young people to succeed by ensuring they complete school with the skillset and mindset to contribute to thrive. JA brings a different approach to education that uses innovation and contextual learning in partnership with educators, employers, and the community at large. Through engaging, experiential lessons and volunteer interactions, JA programmes help students see the relevance of what they are learning in the classroom and its application to the real world, acquire or enhance the skills they need to be successful in the workforce or postsecondary institutions, and recognise the value of an education. This knowledge helps students learn to manage their finances, understand basic economic concepts, explore careers, and develop in-demand job skills. Consequently, as adults, they will be more prepared to enter the workforce, make informed financial decisions, and contribute to the success of their local economy.

In 2024-2025, the Eurofins Foundation is providing funding to the Junior Achievement - Inspiring STEM Exploration for Students in Lancaster County. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education places a strong emphasis on STEM education for all students, noting the need for students to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce and to be successful in a technology driven, global economy. Junior Achievement’s STEM programmes seek to pique students’ interests in STEM concepts, skills and careers through reality-based simulations and hands-on experiences that ignite their natural curiosity.

Junior Achievement has strategically integrated STEM into three of its programmes for students aged 10-18 giving them an opportunity to discover how these fruitful jobs can integrate with their talents, skills, and interests. Additionally, the JA Inspire programme is a virtual career fair designed to help students identify regional employers, many of them representing STEM careers, and begin to connect with post-secondary opportunities including apprenticeships, trades schools, colleges, and job opportunities.

This project contributes to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal