As economies grow more dependent on innovation and self-employment, Mauritius is prioritizing programs that build entrepreneurial capacity in women and youth. The June 2025 report from JA Mascareignes underscores how targeted interventions, like the Goal Accelerator and Company of the Year (COY) programme, are helping to prepare a new wave of leaders for both business and social impact.
For many aspiring entrepreneurs in Mauritius, access to structured guidance, mentorship and real-world exposure has often been the missing link between potential and sustainable progress. JA Mascareignes is addressing this gap through well-designed, inclusive programs that not only support business skills development but also foster confidence and a mindset shift among participants.
One of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, the Goal Accelerator, has been central to these efforts. Launched in August 2024, the programme has already supported 51 women across three cohorts, delivering tailored training that builds entrepreneurial literacy, leadership and self-belief. Participants of the Goal Accelerator have consistently highlighted the programme’s role in improving their understanding of how to run a business and more importantly, how to see themselves as capable business leaders.
This programme is delivered in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Mauritius and includes a mix of workshops, mentoring sessions and exposure to both employment and enterprise pathways. In a significant new development, JA Mascareignes has also partnered with MITD Clairfonds to pilot the integration of Goal Accelerator content into vocational training. Seventeen women are currently enrolled in this vocational pilot and are expected to graduate in September 2025, further expanding the programme’s reach to women who are building technical and business skills simultaneously.
While the Goal Accelerator focuses on advancing women’s economic participation, JA Mascareignes is also actively working to engage young people in entrepreneurial innovation, particularly around sustainability and climate action.
The 2025 edition of the JA Company of the Year (COY) competition is already underway, under the theme ACT – Act for Climate Transformation. With more than 500 students registered, this year’s programme is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic yet. Participants are forming real student companies and developing environmentally conscious business solutions that align with global sustainability priorities. From biodegradable packaging to solar-powered devices, the ideas emerging from this youth-led initiative demonstrate a strong grasp of both innovation and responsibility.
Scheduled for July 2025, the COY trade fair will offer students a platform to showcase their ventures, gain feedback from industry professionals and engage with potential investors and partners. More than just a competition, the initiative builds foundational business skills, such as financial management, teamwork, marketing and leadership, through experiential learning. It also creates space for youth voices to influence how business can be used as a force for environmental and economic transformation.
The value of these programmes has not gone unnoticed. In February 2025, the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) featured JA Mascareignes and its work, bringing national visibility to the organisation’s impact. This coverage not only reaffirmed the relevance of JA’s mission but also inspired wider interest in youth and women-led entrepreneurship as a key driver of inclusive growth in Mauritius.
JA Mascareignes is part of JA Africa, one of the largest and most influential platforms for youth economic empowerment on the continent. Operating in 23 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, JA Africa reaches more than one million youth annually in over 3,000 schools. The network delivers hands-on learning in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, ensuring that young people are equipped not just to enter the workforce but to lead within it.
The strength of JA’s model lies in its blended learning approach, combining classroom instruction with practical experience, mentorship and exposure to real business environments. This model empowers participants to turn ideas into action, equipping them with both the mindset and the skills to create sustainable livelihoods.
In Mauritius, the results speak for themselves. Women who once lacked the confidence to start a business are now building brands and expanding their reach. Young people who had never imagined themselves as entrepreneurs are now pitching solutions to real-world problems. Across both programmes, a common theme emerges: when women and youth are given the right tools, support, and opportunity, they rise and with them, so does the broader economy.
As the Goal Accelerator prepares for its next graduation and the COY 2025 competition moves forward, JA Mascareignes is setting a clear example of how investing in human capital, especially among underrepresented groups, is essential for building an inclusive, innovation-driven future. Whether it’s in a rural workshop or a student boardroom, the entrepreneurial energy taking root in Mauritius signals a promising shift for the country’s long-term development.
This is more than training; it’s long-term transformation. And it begins by betting on the people who are ready to lead it.
