Member Companies

Much like the original member companies, present member companies continue to be involved in JAPI. Aside from contributing financially, member companies support JAPI by participating in JAPI events such as the “CEO Day” wherein top executives of prestigious corporations personally inspire young students by conducting a tour of their offices or plants and providing an overview of their business. Other JAPI activities include fund raising activities such as the “JAPI Annual Golf Classic” wherein top executives enjoy a competitive and meaningful day of golfing. In addition to participation and events, member companies are also invaluable for the goodwill that is spread throughout their respective business communities in JAPI’s behalf.

Because of JA focus on the unconventional and distinct perspective provided by experienced professionals to the system, the most critical area of support is the undoubtedly the recruitment of qualified advisers to effectively teach and implement JA programs to develop young student participants. To aid in this important task, member companies provide capable volunteers to serve as advisors for the various JA programs. This type of involvement is key in spreading the program’s benefits to as many Filipino youths as possible.

Advisers

As advisers, volunteers impart “practical” knowledge to students as a complement to the “theoretical” knowledge being taught in the classroom environment. Advisers share their expertise in the fields of management, finance, production, and marketing. These lessons provide young Filipinos with practical, engaging, and informative activities that educate them about business and economics, and help prepare them for fulfilling careers and contributions to society.

Ultimately, it is not only the students who benefit from this program. Member companies also benefit as their personnel are exposed to a teaching-learning environment wherein knowledge is increased and “people” skills are developed. Because of the interaction that teaching commands, important skills, such as leadership and communication are improved which in turn contribute to the advisors overall versatility

JAPI facilitates the learning environment by providing advisors and students with meeting rooms and JA program manuals that inform and guide discussions in the right direction. JAPI also conducts seminars and orientation programs which prepare advisors for the demands of the various programs. Currently, JAPI offers two programs, the Mini-Company and the Applied Economics program. These programs build on what has worked in the past for JA and what continues to work successfully throughout the world through JAW.

“Learning business by doing business”

The Mini-Company Program helps young Filipinos appreciate and understand better the role of business in the society by allowing them to organize and operate an actual business enterprise. For a ten-month period 3rd and 4th year students from various colleges organize and operate their own mini-company and go through the different steps involved in setting up and closing a company. These steps include capitalization, registration, corporate visioning, election of directors and officers, research and product development, manufacturing, marketing, maintaining a financial record system, preparing of an annual report, distribution of wages and salaries, dealing with taxes, and eventual liquidation of the company. Students assume leadership roles in their companies and perform all functions of business. Each company is guided by 3 advisors (production advisor, finance advisor, and marketing advisor) who in turn are guided by the JA program manual and by their personal knowledge and experiences in the field of business. Through this hands-on approach, students not only learn how businesses function, they also learn about the structure of the Philippines’s free enterprise system and the benefits it provides. Students are left with the valuable skills of critical thinking, leadership, motivation, and application of economic theories to real life business decisions.

Since its introduction in 1969, 25,000 students have graduated from the Mini-Company Program. At the end of each year, the mini-company program is culminated by the Awards Night wherein student-achievers and advisers are recognized for their exemplary performances.

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