Empowering Mothers, Empowering Nations
- jaap123456
- May 8
- 3 min read
Junior Achievement Supports Women in Entrepreneurship around the Asia Pacific region
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate more than motherhood—we celebrate the economic force that mothers represent across communities and countries.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), increasing women’s participation in the economy could boost GDP by an average of 12% across member countries1. The United Nations echoes this, stating that when women work, economies grow2. Women, particularly mothers, are often the backbone of local economies, balancing unpaid care responsibilities with critical roles in the informal and formal workforce. Yet, despite their contributions, women remain underrepresented in business leadership and entrepreneurship.
That’s where Junior Achievement (JA) steps in—with a mission to prepare young people, including young women and mothers, with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to succeed as entrepreneurs, workers, and changemakers.
From the Frontlines of Motherhood to the Forefront of Entrepreneurship
JA’s programs across the region are equipping women—many of them mothers—with practical skills and entrepreneurial training that leads to independence, dignity, and economic resilience.
JA Philippines:
Uplifting Mothers Through ‘It’s My Dream’
The It’s My Dream (IMD) program, a collaboration between Junior Achievement of the Philippines (JA Philippines) and FWD Life Insurance (FWD Philippines), is a transformative initiative designed to support out-of-school youth (OSYs) through entrepreneurship. In 2025, the program took a powerful turn by welcoming young and single mothers into its fold.
Through a carefully designed journey of learning, mentorship, and hands-on practice, IMD opens up pathways for OSYs to gain essential life skills, confidence, and income-generating capabilities. Participants go through modules on budgeting, sales, customer service, marketing, and product development, culminating in a live retail experience at the Dreamers’ Pop-Up Bazaar.
“Welcoming mothers into the program adds a beautiful new dimension to the dream. Their stories of perseverance inspire all of us,” says Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director of JA Philippines.
This isn’t just skill-building—it’s investing in generations. Every mother empowered through IMD not only builds a path for herself but lights the way for her children and community.
🌏 Cha-Ching: A Family Affair
JA’s Cha-Ching program, developed with Prudence Foundation and Cartoon Network, is another standout example of cross-generational impact. Though designed for children to learn core financial values: Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate, Cha-Ching has become a quiet revolution for mothers as co-educators.
JA Philippines invites mothers of students involved with Cha-Ching —especially from underserved communities—to guide their children to make smarter money choices through take-home materials, parent-child activities and community activations, while reflecting on their own financial habits. For many of these mothers, Cha-Ching offers more than financial knowledge; it provides confidence, connection, and a fresh start in conversations about money. By nurturing money-smart kids, they’re also creating ripple effects that can uplift households and reshape generational thinking around money.
Cha-Ching empowers families to talk openly, make better financial decisions, and plant the seeds of long-term security. In the end, Cha-Ching isn’t just about raising financially literate kids, it’s about strengthening families through shared learning, one song and one conversation at a time.
Prestasi Junior Indonesia:
Financial Literacy and Youth-Led Entrepreneurship
In Indonesia, Prestasi Junior is tackling another critical need—financial literacy in the digital age. Through a series of parenting talk shows, primarily attended by mothers, the organization teaches how to navigate financial tools safely and wisely. The goal: create households that are not just surviving, but financially thriving.
Beyond literacy, their Youth Entrepreneurship Education program supports young entrepreneurs aged 18–35—many of whom are mothers. Participants receive intensive training in business management, digital marketing, and financial planning. With hands-on mentoring and exposure to real market conditions, mothers are building businesses that sustain families and spark community growth.
JA Asia Pacific’s work demonstrates a powerful truth: when you educate a mother, you empower a community. When you support women entrepreneurs, you strengthen economies.
This Mother’s Day, we invite corporations, policymakers, and changemakers to join us in scaling these efforts. Whether through partnerships, mentorship, or sponsorships, your support can help us reach more women, unlock more potential, and build a more inclusive future across Asia-Pacific.
Let’s work together to ensure that mothers are not just celebrated—but supported, skilled, and seen as the entrepreneurs and leaders they truly are.
References:
1 Source: OECD, "The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle" (2017)
2 Source: United Nations, "Facts & Figures: Women and the Economy" (UN Women, 2023) https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/csw61/women-and-the-economy