Boosting the power of learning across Europe
Monday 17 July 2023
UniCredit Foundation and Junior Achievement Europe proudly launch “Re-power your future”, a €6.5 million programme to provide concrete hands-on engagement to young people across Europe. The initiative will reach over 400,000 students in 10 countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia), empowering them through the transformative power of learning.
This initiative is part of UniCredit's strategy to unlock the potential of communities by providing them with the levers to progress. As a matter of fact, our bank believes that empowering our communities means ensuring a better future for all. In line with UniCredit’s Purpose of empowering communities to progress, our Foundation is focused on giving Europe’s next generation the keys to unlocking their innate potential and empowering them to become the changemakers of our society.
The main objective of this programme is to support students between the ages of 10 and 19 in their development by involving them in school activities, improving outcomes, preventing them from dropping out of school and guiding them in an informed choice for the career they will choose in the future.
The strengths of the initiative are the partnerships with local schools, businesses, and community organisations so that the students are provided with engaging learning experiences targeted to teach them how to think entrepreneurially, creates mindset shifts on the future possibilities and ensures they have the tools to be financially literate.
The activities are divided into three pillars “Inspire”, “Prepare” and “Succeed”. In "Inspire" and "Prepare", JA Europe member organisations, together with our bank’s mentors and advisors, will provide participants with the knowledge and tools they need to realise their future aspirations.
The "Succeed" session aims to provide comprehensive support to students in the delicate transition from school to the world of work, bringing them closer to activities such as internships, apprenticeships or even the start of an entrepreneurial journey. These activities will include an extended “Job Shadow Week”, engaging internships, and enlightening “Incubation” workshops.
Silvia Cappellini, General Manager UniCredit Foundation and Salvatore Nigro, CEO Junior Achievements Europe
Andrea Orcel, Chairman of UniCredit Foundation shared his perspective, stating:
“UniCredit is united behind a collective Purpose, to empower communities to progress, and the UniCredit Foundation's work in education is essential to this. It is more important than ever that we are committed to building brighter futures for our youth and their communities through education, paving the way for future growth and development. The Foundation's partnership with JA Europe will help us to do this by directly combatting one of the major challenges our continent's educators face at this moment: school dropout rates, which stifle employment opportunities and leave a lasting impact on lifetime earnings. Through this new partnership, the UniCredit Foundation and JA Europe aim to reach over 400,000 students in ten countries, empowering them through the transformative power of learning.”
Watch the "Re-power your future" event video with highlights from Istanbul
