2006
| Junior Achievement Experience Inspires Azerbaijani Students to Start Business |
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| Date published: Dec 18 2007 |
| 2006 >> |
 Shahin Qahramanzade and Ayaz Efendiyev decided to become businessmen, but as they admit "did not know what qualities and skills a successful business person should possess." Now after graduating from Junior Achievement Azerbaijan programs both students run a successful web design business - Newstyle (www.newstyle.ws) along with their partners from Germany and Russia. The graduates from Baku School #6, where JAA works since 2000, Shahin and Ayaz began learning economics in tenth grade in 2004. "Before we thought business is all about buying and selling, but Junior Achievement projects opened the whole new world of complex business relationships to us," comments Shahin.
Both students found JA Economics a great program to prepare them for their roles as future businessmen. "JA along with theoretical knowledge gives us the opportunity to apply our skills in practice," says Ayaz. For Shahin and Ayaz business training started in February 2005 when they were selected to be organizers of the "Bazaar," a fundraising event for Junior Achievement Azerbaijan programs organized by the Baku Women's Foundation. "Bazaar was our first opportunity to apply our marketing skills in reality," remembers Shahin. "Guided by 'the real product - the real money' we raised $400 for JAA by selling our products, such as child art, handicraft and souvenirs. We paid special attention to promotion of our products that made us successful."
 In October 2005, Shahin and Ayaz joined JAA 'Student Companies' project and won the Second Place award that will enable them to participate in the summer job shadow with one of JA partner companies. "Thanks to JAA and our mentor, Ms. Aysel Asgerova from Exxon Mobil, we learned how businesses are managed and how to write a business plan - makes it easy to have completed business strategy and financial projections. As a result we now administer our own e-company," the students say.
Successful friends recently passed through US Department of State exams and will spend exchange year in the United States as a part of Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. Upon their return, they both plan to rent an office for their business in Baku and become full tax-payers.
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Junior Achievement provides teachers, and schools with concrete programmes, and allows students to learn how to put theory into practice and to understand what entrepreneurship is about. In this way students gain self-confidence and motivation, become proactive and learn how to work in a team. This is an important investment in Europe's future.