JAYE Malta is celebrating its 30th Anniversary at the InterContinental Malta on 6 December at 7.30pm!
Over the past 30 years, Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Malta (JAYE) has inspired thousands of young minds and set youths on the path for entrepreneurial success. Since 1988, the organisation – formerly known as Young Enterprise – has seen more than 7,000 students take part in their non-formal, hands-on and experiential programmes.
To commemorate their 30th anniversary, JAYE Malta is hosting a gala dinner at the InterContinental Malta on 6 December to celebrate the revolutionary impact that their work – including that of students, mentors, volunteers, stakeholders and friends – has had on the world of education and entrepreneurship, while kicking off another 30 years of achievement.
Lara Degabriele, who took part in the 2014 Company Programme finals, describes JAYE’s mission as “inspiring big ideas in young minds”.
Of course, the first-step behind these ideas was to create a company, something that Lara has always wanted to do. During her time at Junior College, she was the designated Sales and Marketing Manager of the Young Enterprise company ‘MeStories’, which set out to help young children improve their standard of Maltese, through an application featuring Maltese audiobooks.
Lara tells me that her role was, essentially, to get the word out about MeStories, while ensuring that everything the company did adhered to her team’s brand standards. Now a student of the Raindance Film School in London, she says: “In my field, I need to present my ideas and market myself as a brand and, thanks to JAYE, I acquired the knowhow to be able do this.”
Before embarking on her first entrepreneurial venture, Lara anticipated that it would be a rewarding experience. “I knew that it would be a lot of hard work but that the pay-off would be worth it, as I was fortunate enough to form part of a team of underdogs, who were willing to put in 100% of their time and effort into our company. Even though we placed second in the finals, we still came out as winners with regards to how much we learned and the connections we created, as well as the numerous awards that added value to our work,” she says.
In a world where education is often rigid, JAYE Malta emphasises the value that comes with celebrating achievement of all shapes and sizes.
Indeed, having had plenty of experience on stage, Lara also helped her colleagues to prepare for their presentations. “My favourite achievement was when the quietest girl I’ve ever met stood in front of the judges and presented our company with confidence,” she adds. Lara then went on to volunteer with JAYE for a few years after her competition year, helping out at events, offering advice to achievers and even hosting the programme finals. Hers is a brilliant example of the many, many people who have been helped and inspired by JAYE over the years.
Now, if you would like to share your #JAYEStory, contact JAYE Malta Foundation or fill in this form to reserve your tickets for the JAYE Malta 30th Anniversary Celebration.
The JAYE Malta 30th Anniversary Celebration will be held at the InterContinental Malta on 6 December at 7.30pm. For more information and to reserve your seats, visit the @JayeMalta Facebook page or www.jayemalta.org. Tickets cost €50 and are available at a discounted rate of €30 for students.