Citi Foundation Provides Funding to J.A. Korea for Youth Employability Enhancement

Korea’s Representative for the ‘2025 Global Innovation Challenge’
$500,000 in Funding Provided

Citibank Korea announced that J.A. Korea has been selected for the '2025 Global Innovation Challenge' hosted by the Citi Foundation.

This challenge is Citi's global social contribution program, which selects serious social issues faced worldwide and supports nonprofit organizations that propose innovative solutions to address them. This year, under the theme of 'Youth Employability,' a total of 50 organizations were selected from nonprofit applicants around the world.

Each organization will receive $500,000 in funding, totaling $25 million (approximately 35 billion KRW), and will collaborate and exchange with nonprofit organizations from other countries to develop and implement innovative solutions to youth employment issues. In Korea, following the selection of Habitat for Humanity Korea last year, a Korean nonprofit organization has been chosen for the second consecutive year.

Citibank Korea provides funding to J.A. Korea, which has worked hard to solve youth employment issues, through the Citi Foundation.

J.A. Korea will receive a total of $500,000 in funding from the Citi Foundation over two years to operate a job competency development program that helps juvenile probationers achieve independence and adapt to society. This program consists of career exploration, financial education, social adaptation skills, and basic learning, aiming to help participating youths discover their potential and grow into healthy members of society. Based on its experience of collaborating with J.A. Korea since 2015 to operate financial education and career competency programs for young people, Citibank Korea plans to actively support this project to bring about tangible changes in strengthening the employability and independence of juvenile probationers.

Ed Skyler, Chairman of the Citi Foundation Board, stated, "It is important and meaningful to provide practical opportunities and stepping stones for growth to young people who face high barriers to employment," adding, "Citi and the Citi Foundation have continuously invested to expand job and economic opportunities for future generations, and through this challenge, we hope each organization will bridge the youth employment gap on the ground and drive change in their communities."

Yoo Myungsoon, CEO of Citibank Korea, said, "We are delighted and honored that J.A. Korea has been selected as Korea’s representative for the '2025 Global Innovation Challenge.' In particular, the fact that a Korean nonprofit organization has been selected for two consecutive years, following Habitat for Humanity Korea last year, demonstrates that Citibank’s social contribution efforts are taking root in a consistent and sustainable direction."