Matthew Caruana, CEO of JA Malta Foundation, has announced that JA Worldwide has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for the fourth consecutive year.

In a statement celebrating the achievement, Mr Caruana expressed his gratitude to the team, board, teachers, mentors, and collaborators who contribute to JA’s work in Malta.

"Couldn't be prouder! Super happy to share this news with everyone, especially with the team, board, teachers, mentors, and collaborators that help us here in Malta," Mr Caruana wrote.

As a member of the JA Europe Board, he highlighted the global impact of the organisation: "JA is one of the largest youth-serving organisations in the world, combining deep local roots with a global network that spans 100+ countries. As a network, we delivered more than 19 million student learning experiences globally last year, creating a pipeline of skilled, entrepreneurial, and ethically minded young leaders, ready to fuel industries, drive innovation, create social stability, and strengthen economies."

The organisation was first nominated in 2022 and has continued to receive recognition each year since. While the identities of nominees officially remain anonymous for 50 years, JA Worldwide has received confirmation of its nomination from eligible advocates.

JA Worldwide’s work extends across diverse environments, from urban centres to rural communities, and even to regions affected by political instability, violence, and war. In refugee camps, for example, the organisation provides students with the skills and mindset to overcome adversity, fostering resilience and hope for their future roles as entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers.

As economic uncertainty grows worldwide, JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani emphasised the importance of preparing young people for the evolving workforce. “The next decade will demand a workforce that is not just skilled, but adaptable and entrepreneurial. With AI transforming the world, millions of young people face the risk of being left behind – unemployable, unproductive, and disheartened – leaving economies to stagnate and societies to falter. JA prepares young people for the road ahead, providing skills-based education and empowering a shift in mindset from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can.’”

Karen Reddington, Chair of JA Worldwide, further reinforced the organisation’s mission: “Education and economic empowerment lead to prosperity. Without prosperity for all communities, peace is not sustainable.”

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 142 laureates between 1901 and 2024, including 111 individuals and 31 organisations. Notable past recipients include Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), which won the prize in 1999, and UNICEF, which was honoured in 1965. Last year’s laureate was Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese atomic-bomb survivors’ group recognised for raising awareness of the devastating effects of nuclear weapons.