More financial education, better opportunities
Making good financial decisions is also something you learn. The earlier that learning starts, the more tools young people have to gain independence, weigh their options, and build their future.
We are part of the Americas Business Dialogue (ABD), a private-sector-led initiative facilitated by the IDB that brings together more than 460 companies and organizations to bring public policy recommendations to governments across the Americas.
The ABD just released its conclusions on how to boost growth and productivity in the region. The report focuses on three major challenges: improving conditions for investment and entrepreneurship, accelerating technology adoption, and better preparing people for the world ahead.
Within that third pillar, something especially relevant to us stands out: expanding financial education and digital skills, with a focus on young people and vulnerable populations, and integrating them into national education and employment strategies.
Being able to bring our experience across 26 countries into these conversations is also a way to broaden our impact.
When the impossible starts to feel possible
From August 25 to 29, 250 young people from 11 countries gathered in the hills of Córdoba, Argentina, for the 28th edition of the International Entrepreneurs Forum (FIE), organized by Junior Achievement Córdoba. Under the theme “Connect to transform”, they spent five days in workshops, talks with industry leaders, and entrepreneurial challenges.
Participants also competed in EmprendeFIE: Camila Michelle Tejada, from Peru, won the 2026 edition and earned a full scholarship to the next FIE in Guatemala.
After 28 editions, the FIE continues to bring together young people from different countries and cultures to learn and build connections with their peers.
More women are gaining ground in tech
The 2025-2026 Results Report for Mujer Digital is now available — the training and employability program for women looking to grow in the tech sector.
Among employed participants, formal employment grew by 25 percentage points. In addition, 62% of new jobs were in tech or digital roles, and 75% were full-time.
The impact also shows up in other ways: 93% of graduates said they felt more confident, and 97% feel capable of learning and solving problems with technology.
A conversation can change a path
Two years ago, JB Camacho, Senior Manager Technical Sales at Dell Technologies, shared a simple piece of advice with Junior Achievement Panama students: don't be afraid of challenges.
Some time later, he ran into one of those young people again. Today, he's in his second year of college, serves as student association president, and enjoys public speaking. He still remembered the conversation.
For Junior Achievement, volunteering brings young people closer to real experiences and career paths, learnings, and role models from the professional world that broaden their understanding of the world and their connection to the workforce, and let them see themselves beyond school.
Through the partnership between Junior Achievement Panama and Dell Technologies, more than 1,300 students took part in different experiences this year, supported by 160 volunteer advisors.
