Jin Yuha / United Nations Development Programme
Lee Kyung Min
Jin Yuha, co-founder and CEO of online chat-based English-learning platform Terra, said on Friday that the company is committed to enriching social entrepreneurship among young people.
Her business was featured as an exemplary youth entrepreneur at the Regional Youth Co:Lab Summit 2024, held June 28-29 in Manila, Philippines.
“I am happy to hear that my edtech startup, which I launched to create employment opportunities for highly educated workers in Uganda, inspired over 200 participants from 20 regions at the summit,” she said.
Regional Youth Co-Lab was co-launched in 2018 by Citi Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, a UN agency established with a network of experts and partners from 170 countries to end poverty, inequality and climate change.
“Terra is not only bridging the language gap, it is also creating more than 300 knowledge-based job opportunities for university-educated youth in developing countries, including the Philippines and Uganda,” she said.
Tella connects English language learners around the world with native English teachers in Southeast Asia and Africa. The platform has over 100,000 users in 60 countries.
In recognition of its social and environmental efforts, the company earned B Corporation certification from B Lab in 2019, certifying that companies meet high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency in everything from employee benefits and philanthropy to supply chain practices and input materials.
“I have had my fair share of challenges over the past few years and what I have realised is that to be successful, young entrepreneurs need to be well aware of technological advancements and diversify their business portfolio to manage future risks,” she said.
In her view, the important role of young entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds in driving sustainable and equitable economic development and advancing the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals should be further celebrated.
“Leading a business is hard enough,” she says. “Facilitating knowledge and idea sharing through networking and collaboration with young entrepreneurs was an opportunity to engage more young people and take action to advocate for collaborative initiatives and policies.”
She plans to expand her business, matching young, talented tech workers from developing countries with employers in developed countries.
“Our years of experience in rigorous screening of job seekers and high-quality services verified by end users will help in the efficient management of IT talent across the globe,” she said.
