Jains in Action (JIA) is an excellent opportunity for Jain youth to put what they’ve learned in school to practical use. It encourages interdisciplinary collaboration to solve problems that exist in the real world around us! This hands-on program brings the spirit of problem-solving and action to the YJA Convention, and participants will receive training and mentorship in valuable skills. Mentors, judges, and Convention attendees at large will get to see the results of their hard work when semifinalists present to judges, and finalists present on the main stage.

Why JIA? Our Jain communities have given so much to us - this is our chance to use our skills and creativity to give something back, and begin to build for future generations. We hope you’ll join us in this wonderful journey!

The Process

JIA will start with a series of virtual meetings before Convention, where teams will identify a problem in our Jain communities and work together to develop and test their solution. Along the way, they’ll learn collaborative problem solving techniques that can be used in any field, to solve any kind of problem. They’ll be guided by experienced mentors who will cover human centered design, brainstorming and design thinking techniques, prototyping and presentation strategies, and more. At Convention, they’ll have the opportunity to collaborate in person and showcase their ideas to the broader convention audience! After Convention, we will connect teams with community leaders and stakeholders interested in helping bring their ideas to life.

The Participants

We are looking for Jain youth coming to YJA Convention in the College and JNF age range who are interested in creatively solving problems in the Jain community. No prior experience in social impact competitions, design or entrepreneurship is required (though it will certainly be helpful!). The JIA Admin Team will review all applications and create teams by taking into account factors such as participants’ areas of expertise, interests, and locations. We will work to put together teams in which each individual participant brings something to the table and has something to learn from their teammates!

The JIA Admin Team will review all applications and create teams by taking into account factors such as participants’ areas of expertise, interests, and locations. We will work to put together teams in which each individual participant brings something to the table and has something to learn from their teammates!

The Prize

All teams will make a final presentation to their fellow JIA participants at Convention. The top three teams as determined by the mentor panel will present in front of the entire Convention audience and a panel of judges and make the case for their idea! The top team will win the opportunity to bring their project to life with YJA’s support - we’ll connect you with relevant stakeholders and mentors, as well as monetary support if relevant that corresponds to a project plan developed by your team. Your project will also be featured in Jain Digest, which gets mailed to over 15,000 readers nationwide, and in Young Minds!

How to Apply

Do you think you might be interested in participating in JIA? If you plan to be a College or JNF attendee at YJA 2020, fill out this form with your contact info and we will let you know when JIA signup goes live!

Expectations

JIA participants are expected to participate in a professional manner, keeping in mind Jain values at all times. We expect all participants to communicate respectfully with each other and with mentors, as well as display good sportsmanship during the competition itself. At all times while on the Convention site, JIA participants must adhere to YJA Convention rules and regulations. Participants are expected to work hard to contribute to their teams, learn a lot from the people they meet, and most importantly, contribute to the Jain community while having fun!