Apr 26, 2024 – The 2024 Starbucks Creative Youth Entrepreneurship Program – Regional Student Company Competition was held on Friday 26^th April in the facilities of the National Library in Jakarta. The Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks Indonesia supported student run businesses representing schools from multiple locations, including Jayapura in Papua, gathered together to showcase their business creations and face a team of judges. These judges were comprised of senior management from Starbucks Indonesia and, together, they had the mission of selecting the two best businesses to proceed to the National final in June. – not an easy task given the quality of business presentations, interviews, and products. Each student company was able to advance to this level of operations with the support of Starbucks volunteers in each city. These business professionals contributed to business operations through mentoring and guidance over many months, including engagement with students from a school for the disabled – SLB Santi Rama in Jakarta.

After a period of intense deliberation, the Starbucks Jury team selected Sarasija Company from SMAN 3 Yogyakarta and Cossivy Company from SMAN 81 Jakarta based upon a range of factors, including professionalism and creativity. These students will now compete for the honour of representing Indonesia at the Asia Pacific Student Company Competition in Tokyo 2025. The judges were also assigned the task of selecting other outstanding participants from a range of businesses.

Prestasi Junior Indonesia expresses gratitude to all of the participants from Starbucks Indonesia and the Starbucks Foundation on behalf of the many students who have benefitted from this business experience.  We look forward to monitoring and supp0orting each of the winning teams as they prepare for success at the national competition in June.

Research by Gallup shows that two-thirds of adults are financially illiterate. In fact, lack of financial awareness and literacy can lead to high debt, insolvency, and lifelong poverty. To help combat the challenge of financial illiteracy, Prestasi Junior Indonesia (PJI) and PT Bank HSBC Indonesia (HSBC Indonesia) continued the implementation of the JA More than Money program for middle school students in 11 cities in Indonesia.

JA More than Money encouraged Indonesian students to explore money-management skills and become familiar with the key differences among earning, saving, and spending. They learn that money can be saved in a financial institution such as a bank and how that money can earn interest. Through hands-on activities and a cast of kid-friendly characters serving as symbols for financial literacy and entrepreneurship concepts, students also learn a practical approach to start a business and develop a basic business plan. Additionally, the participants of JA More than Money also have the opportunity to visit selected HSBC Bank branch offices across Indonesia. They can see and experience banking activities, such as money deposits, the function of ATM machines, and foreign currency exchange.

This innovative program and the involvement of 100 volunteers gave an extraordinary impact for 3,795 students from middle school this year. They have learnt a lot of new things about finance and entrepreneurship, which are rarely obtained from teachers in their class. They also get a fantastic opportunity to experience banking services exclusively. As a result, students gained a significant improvement in their understanding of financial management and are now better prepared to manage their money wisely in the future.

Prestasi Junior Indonesia and HSBC Indonesia believe that people must be equipped with the knowledge and money-management skills to make smart financial decisions. For 11 years, our collaboration has successfully benefitted 30,752 middle school students, as well as involving 255 teachers from 135 schools. By providing relevant, hands-on learning, the JA More than Money program teaches students the basics of money management early on, and prepares an entire generation to become more financially responsible and literate adults who contribute positively to their communities.