12th class of Junior Achievement Latvia's Leadership Programme graduates 13 young people

Junior Achievement Latvia has completed the 12th edition of its Leadership Programme, in which young participants built leadership and teamwork skills while working alongside experienced mentors and coaches. According to Jānis Krievāns, head of Junior Achievement Latvia, the programme aims to equip young people with tools to drive socially meaningful change, guiding them from personal development toward practical project management alongside industry professionals.

Over the course of the school year, participants took part in masterclasses, support meetings and a camp, while working regularly with their mentors and coaches to immediately put new knowledge into practice on their own initiatives.

Wide range of topics and cities

In total, 13 youth-led initiatives were carried out across various Latvian cities this year, addressing a broad range of issues — from literature and democracy to peer support for young people affected by cancer. Several teams also focused on environmental topics, including examining greenwashing practices and finding ways to educate their peers on sustainability.

Among the completed projects is the youth literary festival "Kolibri," whose writing competition drew 203 submissions from nearly all of Latvia and gives young writers a chance to receive advice from well-known Latvian authors. In Ventspils, the youth democracy and dialogue festival "Bāka" brought together dozens of discussion participants and hundreds of visitors, with organizers announcing it will continue next year. Meanwhile, the initiative "Kopā Ceļā" created a support community for young people with cancer experience, helping to ease feelings of isolation.

Participants from across Latvia

The 13 graduates come from schools in Riga, Jelgava, Daugavpils, Ventspils, Rēzekne, Limbaži and Smiltene. They were supported throughout the year by a broad team of mentors, with the programme backed by several corporate and educational partners.