Connect, Share and Impact: How to Co-Create the Future?

Paris, 1967 Pierre-Marie Thauvin founds the first Junior enterprise. Little Europe could know of what a great movement was about to start. Only 2 years after the Junior Enterprise concept is already spreading around France and in 1969 the first Junior Enterprise Confederation is founded and its name is CNJE, Confédération Nationale des Junior Enterprises. The newborn concept starts to spread all over Europe and day after day, it fascinates always more students, university deans, companies and institutions.

Paris, 1992, six Confederations come together to create JADE, the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises and since then thousands of students have helped Europe in its development by influencing policymakers decisions, offering high-quality services and creating generations of influential leaders.

“Paris, 1992, 6 confederations”

Since his birth, the Junior Enterprise movement has impacted Europe in many ways. Junior Entrepreneurs are top-class students who have decided to challenge themselves and to have an active role in their personal growth. Even before entering the working world they are already helping the growth of the continent with their proactive participation and contribution. They are an opportunity for a company as they can bring a real significant addition since the very beginning of their work for the company.

However, this is only a part of the impact that the Junior Enterprise movement has. What should be taken into particular consideration is the social impact that the movement generates on the society. Junior Entrepreneurs are brilliant and fresh minds who provide many different clients with high-quality services at a very competitive price or even pro-bono. As for that, also startups and SMEs with limited budgets can benefit for example from high-level consultancy services provided by Junior Entrepreneurs.

Moreover, many times, those services have a high social impact. As for example a campaign that focuses on raising awareness on a topic such as skin cancer or a project that helps high schoolers with their choice in the field of university study.

50 years later is crucial to reflect on what is going to be for the next 50 years – The Junior Enterprise movement has been impacting Europe for long, now it’s time for it to impact the world.

Today the world can only be Co-Created and Junior Entrepreneurs are the ones empowered with such a duty. In a world injured by many conflicts, where barriers and borders have strengthened up nationalism and fear only brilliant, educated and fresh minds can make a real and deep change. Co-operating, connecting and sharing are key and essential factors for making such a change. Today there are Junior Enterprises in 40 countries and 40 000 Junior Entrepreneurs around the world, that is a huge potential that needs to be utilized. In order to shape and to have a deep impact on the future of the world, Junior Entrepreneurs should sit together to define a common strategy, to help each other out and to start the Co-creation of the future together. Lobbying for a better world where there are equal opportunities for everybody, no borders and the voice of young people heard by everyone.

“50 years later is crucial to reflect on what is going to be for the next 50 years – The Junior Enterprise movement has been impacting Europe for long, now it’s time for it to impact the world”

 The potential of the impact of the Junior Enterprise movement for the world is countless and this is only the beginning.