The students who will represent the country in the regional finals of the 2023 FedEx Express/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx / JA ITC) in August have been announced.
(Courtesy of FedEx)
The FedEx / JA ITC fosters business knowledge through practical teamwork exercises and classroom learning.
“For more than a decade, we have witnessed the brilliance and ingenuity of the Filipino youth in ideating and creating solutions that bring positive impact to our communities,” said FedEx Express Philippines Managing Director Maribeth Espinosa.
“We are honored to be a part of their journey and we will continue to support them as they bring their ideas to life through their future enterprises,” she added.
Six students, three teams, one country
After winning in the Philippine finals --- where they attended a local trade workshop and competed with seven other teams in a local competition --- FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, the country’s representatives for the regional finals.
The six students will form three teams.
Norlenmiel D. Madera and Lance Kelly P. Manlangit from Jose Panganiban National High School will be under Team “Eco-Charcoal” and will showcase their product Fumea Eco-Charcoal: A Production of Pyrolysis Process Bio Charcoal from Rice Straw (Latin Name: Oryza Sativa) with the brand name “Fumea Eco-Charcoal”
Tychie Ereil B. Capuno and Brent Haryl M. Magbanua from Negros Occidental Science National High School are the members of Team “Kouhitte.” They came up with a “Banket” (Bag n Blanket) officially called “Kouhitte.”
The third team is composed of Adeline Jianne D. Lorca and Suzanne M. Viloria from Caloocan City Business High School. They will highlight the usage of menstrual underwear as a learning of sustainable consumption. Their product is called “Sustainable Menstrual Underwear.”
The six Philippine winners will go on to work with students from other Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) markets at the 2023 Asia Pacific International Trade Challenge regional finals in August to foster collaborative thinking and encourage diverse ideas from different cultural backgrounds.
Given the team setting, the contestants are expected to exchange experiences with students from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, get a global perspective, and brainstorm ideas that work towards achieving a common goal.
To heighten their knowledge of global trade and acquire skills to prepare a detailed marketing entry strategy plan, more than 1,500 students attended the 2023 program held virtually with four workshops.
The students were challenged to develop a sustainable alternative to a single-use product of their choice for the South African market.
This aligns with the FedEx approach to “reduce, replace, and revolutionize” across business activities to minimize environmental impacts and add value.
Since its introduction to the Philippines in 2009, FedEx / JA ITC continues to strengthen its commitment to helping students better understand the nuances of international trade.
The program has attracted more than 6,000 students with 78 students representing the Philippines at the regional finals.