Three Years of the Zurich Entrepreneurship Program: Over 9,700 Students Inspired to Become Resilient and Sustainable Young Entrepreneurs
Jakarta, June 10, 2025 – Zurich Indonesia, the Z Zurich Foundation, and Prestasi Junior Indonesia have concluded the third year of the Zurich Entrepreneurship Program (ZEP) with significant achievements. This initiative, focused on empowering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness, has educated more than 9,700 students from 50 high schools across 14 cities/ regencies in Indonesia to gain economic self-sufficiency and contribute to a sustainable future.
Edhi Tjahja Negara, Country Manager of Zurich Indonesia, stated, “Zurich believes that equipping young people with strong entrepreneurial skills and financial knowledge is one of the most effective ways to build a sustainable future. We are proud to see how the Zurich Entrepreneurship Program has become a catalyst for thousands of students to confidently face challenges and create a brighter future—not only for themselves but also for their families and communities.”
Adopting an experiential learning approach, ZEP introduces students to the entire process of building and running a business firsthand—from identifying problems, formulating solutions, to executing business ideas. This year, design thinking and project management were incorporated to strengthen students’ critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills.
The program focuses its business idea development on three key themes: the circular economy, healthy lifestyles, and climate change. Students are encouraged not only to create commercially viable business ideas but also to build meaning and impact behind each concept. Over the past three years, this has resulted in the creation of 120 new businesses, generating a total revenue exceeding IDR 950 million.
Adriana Poglia, Head of Enabling Social Equity at the Z Zurich Foundation, said, “Access to quality education, fair economic opportunities, and a supportive environment are essential to unlocking the boundless potential of young people. Through this program, we strive to provide an inclusive, relevant, and transformative learning experience that builds students’ confidence to dream big and create a more equitable and sustainable future.”
Active participation from Zurich volunteers has enhanced students’ learning experiences by providing real-world work insights and fostering young leadership. With the involvement of 228 Zurich Indonesia employees who had participated 565 mentoring sessions, ZEP has successfully transformed classrooms into dynamic and relevant business idea laboratories.
The third-year milestone was also marked by a proud achievement when an Indonesian student team won third place at the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition held in Japan in March 2025. This recognition proves that consistent and relevant entrepreneurship education has the ability to unlock the potential of Indonesia’s youth on the global stage.
Robert Gardiner, Academic Advisor and Operations Counsel at Prestasi Junior Indonesia, added, “ZEP demonstrates how multisector collaboration can accelerate educational transformation. Through strategic partnerships with the private sector, government, educational institutions, and communities—as we have built with Zurich—we have delivered impactful and valuable entrepreneurship learning experiences for schools, teachers, and students.”
The Zurich Entrepreneurship Program journey has built a learning ecosystem that enriches curricula, promotes integration of sustainability values, and strengthens financial literacy and inclusion. Zurich and Prestasi Junior Indonesia remain committed to continuously creating spaces where Indonesian youth can learn, grow, and contribute to inclusive economic development.