| EDUCATION | ||
| ENVIRONMENT |
Alex Budak, 28
StartSomeGood
Washington, DC, United States
Alex co-founded StartSomeGood to empower changemakers to mobilize people — and funding — to transform their ideas into action and impact. The StartSomeGood website offers social innovators a platform for communicating world-changing ideas. On the site, they detail their plans and establish a deadline by which they need to reach a financial goal. To ensure the outcomes specified are achieved, none of the money pledged becomes available unless the fundraising goal is met on time. Says Alex, “Our approach leverages the most important trends in philanthropy today — internationalization, personalization, transparency, micro-giving, and gaming — to create a powerful new fundraising platform for changemakers.” Learn more: http://startsomegood.com
Besa Luci, 28
Kosovo 2.0
Pristina, Kosovo
Through Kosovo 2.0, Besa gives voice to Kosovo’s silenced, disenfranchised majority: its young people. Kosovo 2.0 combines traditional and new media to create a self-sustaining platform for youth to become active participants in their communities. An independent, youth-led media outlet, the initiative publishes a print magazine and manages a robust online presence through which youth post blogs, vlogs, and photo essays. Recent themes explored include Kosovo’s image, corruption, and religion and gender issues. Kosovo 2.0 also organizes trainings and workshops on citizen journalism, advocacy, and activism. Material is published in Albanian, English, and Serbian, with the website recording 70,000 unique visitors in 2011. Learn more: www.kosovotwopointzero.com
Karina Peña, 27
MAKA GREEN BCN
Barcelona, Spain
Karina co-founded MAKA GREEN BCN to promote social action, creative entrepreneurship, and participatory governance to build a sustainable and livable Barcelona. To achieve its goals, MAKA GREEN publishes an online magazine (www.makagreenbcn.com) promoting sustainable design and sparks dialogue around creative solutions to environmental issues facing the city. The magazine’s readership now extends to 120 countries and 1,400 cities. Through the MAKA SHOP (www.makagreenshop.com), an online store that promotes fair trade and conscious consumer behavior, local eco-designers market their products. By connecting citizens to entrepreneurs, the initiative seeks to revitalize the local economy. In 2011, Karina received the Young Social Entrepreneurs Award from Universidad Europea de Madrid, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network. Learn more: www.makagreen.com
Yashveer Singh, 26
National Social Entrepreneurship Forum
Bengaluru, India
Yashveer founded the National Social Entrepreneurship Forum (NSEF) to address talent inequity in the development sector and influence youth culture in India by inspiring, educating, and supporting university students to pursue social innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the last three years, NSEF has undertaken social entrepreneurship activities at 40 universities, successfully integrating development needs into youth-targeted programs. Among its initiatives, NSEF has set up student-run chapters at top institutes across the country, inspired youth through real-time stories, linked developmental organizations to talented students, strengthened the capacities of youth through social venture planning tools, and provided youth with mentors and access to diverse networks through its conferences and competitions. “India is a country of volumes,” says Yashveer. “The problems of our society are in volumes. What’s needed is to scale up the number of people — and solutions — to address these problems.” Learn more: www.nsef-india.org
Afif Tabsh, 24
Aie Serve
Beirut, Lebanon
Afif co-founded Aie Serve, a youth empowerment NGO, to nurture a new spirit of volunteerism among Lebanon’s youth and to promote the values of respect, acceptance, and love. Each year, Aie Serve equips hundreds of youth, ages 18 to 30, with the skills, knowledge, tools, and networks they need to contribute to their communities. Activities are carried out through three programs: Aie Clubs, Aie Consult, and Aie Power. A network of 12 Aie Clubs has been established at various universities and in local communities around the country to work on projects that solve local problems. Aie Consult is an NGO incubator with a capacity-building focus that helps youth launch their own nongovernmental organizations or improve their existing organizations through consulting, coaching, and training. Aie Power provides a platform for youth to pitch their non-profit project idea and get the necessary seed funding, coaching, and training to make it a reality. Aie Serve also leads campaigns, training workshops, and coaching sessions. In 2011, Afif was recognized with the King Adbullah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network. Learn more: www.aieserve.org
Arun Krishnamurthy, 25
Environmental Foundation of India
Chennai, India
Arun launched the Environmental Foundation of India (EFI) to promote greater awareness of the interconnectedness of all life and to empower citizens to play an active role in conservation efforts. EFI is now active in three cities through the efforts of 800 committed volunteers. Through its Lake Biodiversity Restoration project, EFI has restored six lakes, educated and mobilized students in 137 schools, and produced street plays and documentary films in support of its efforts. Plans are now underway to construct an animal rescue facility. Central to EFI’s work is instilling in humans the value of living in harmony with the natural world. Learn more: www.indiaenvironment.org
Cristian Jonathan Vélez Ramirez, 25
Experiential Environmental Education for a Better Quality of Life in the Amazon
Iquitos, Peru
Through the Experiential Environmental Education for a Better Quality of Life in the Amazon program, Cristian leads educational workshops that engage up to 15,000 students and community members annually in efforts to protect and conserve the natural wealth of the Amazon. Through the project, a program of the Amazon Rescue Centre, children engage in green games, puppet shows, and volunteer activities. Learning is brought to life through exposure to the endangered Amazonian manatee. By creating memorable experiences for children, Cristian seeks to promote conservation as a lifelong experience that is rewarding — and fun. The program is supported, in part, through the sale of locally-produced souvenirs and crafts that promote greater awareness of the plight of the manatee. As a result of its efforts, already eight manatees have been released into the wild. In 2011, Cristian was honored with the Champions of Change Award by Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network. Learn more: www.acobia-dwazoo.com
Dang Hong Thai, 22
EcoFire
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dang launched EcoFire as a social enterprise that develops technological solutions to address urgent health and environmental issues in low-income communities in Vietnam. Central to its work is the sale of Eco Carbon as a renewable fuel produced from agricultural waste (e.g., rice straw). Eco Carbon offers a safe and economical substitute to the burning of traditional coal, producing 50 percent fewer toxic emissions. It not only costs 20 percent less, but burns 20 percent longer. In addition to producing greener energy and contributing to improved health, EcoFire tackles the issue of poor management of agricultural waste in rural areas.
Rafael Henrique Siqueira Rodrigues, 29
S.O.Sustentabilidade (Organized Systems for Sustainability)
São Paulo, Brazil
Rafael Henrique launched S.O.Sustentabilidade (Organized Systems for Sustainability) to help individuals and communities adopt environmentally- and socially-sustainable behaviors, practices, and systems. This includes fostering more efficiency across the entire solid waste chain, while creating fair incomes and decent jobs for workers engaged in material sorting and recycling. To date, S.O.Sustentabilidade has established over 10 partnerships with universities, companies, government agencies, and NGOs, with a volunteer workforce consisting of engineers, lawyers, marketers, and business professionals. In addition to hosting workshops on sustainability, green building, and permaculture, S.O.Sustentabilidade initiated a program to increase public awareness of the impact of cigarette butts on the environment. It is also collaborating with NGOs to design a regulated market for solid waste along the lines of the carbon market. In 2011, Rafael Henrique was recognized as an Iam Fellow through the Anhembi Morumbi Youth Initiative, a program of Anhembi Morumbi University, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network. Learn more: www.sosustentabilidade.org.br
Muhammed Kisirisa, 24
Action for Fundamental Change and Development
Kampala, Uganda
Muhammed launched Action for Fundamental Change and Development (AFFCAD) to empower slum communities to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS while promoting local self-reliance. Among its activities, AFFCAD offers HIV/AIDS prevention and reproductive health workshops, trains youth to serve as peer educators, distributes condoms and informational materials, operates a school attended by over 170 orphans and vulnerable children, and runs an orphanage for children abandoned by sex workers. Recognizing the strong link between HIV/AIDS and poverty, AFFCAD provides youth with formal and vocational education and empowers women to launch small businesses through training and microloans. To support its programs and educate outsiders about local issues, AFFCAD hosts “slum tours” for visitors. Many of the tourists who visit subsequently become ambassadors and volunteers for the organization in their home countries. Learn more: www.affcad.org
Agustín Lorenzo Rodriquez Ake, 26
Caza Sonrisas (Hunting Smiles)
Merida, Mexico
Agustín founded Caza Sonrisas, a social enterprise, to empower hospitalized children to play a role in their own healing process through games that nurture positive emotions. After being diagnosed with cancer as a child, Agustín experienced firsthand the traumatic impact of being hospitalized and the critical role that positive emotions can play in healing. To date, more than 350 young patients, ages 3-16, have been introduced to innovative games through Caza Sonrisas’ network of trained facilitators, with plans underway to expand the initiative to other parts of Mexico in partnership with medical and health science university programs. In 2011, Agustín was honored by Universidad del Valle de México, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network, with the UVM Prize for Social Development.
Jane Nampijja, 29
Befriender Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
Jane is the co-founder of Befriender Uganda, the nation’s first and only suicide prevention center which runs a toll free crisis intervention helpline, creates awareness about suicide and mental illness, and offers counseling and support to youth in crisis. Through its school ambassadorship program, Befriender Uganda trains schools personnel to identify and support youth with suicide-risk behaviors. Currently 15 schools, representing more than 9,000 students and their parents, are benefiting from the initiative. Learn more: www.befrienderuganda.org.
Sambat Choan, 27
Self Help Community Centre
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sambat launched the Self Help Community Centre (SHCC) to improve the quality of life and provide free educational opportunities for children and families living in the rural community of Kro Bei Riel. Among its activities, SHCC operates a school serving 1,700 students, ages 3-20; provides English language classes; delivers social work and kindergarten programs; offers computer, arts, and crafts classes; and conducts community development work. SHCC also provides high school and university scholarships to young people in need. Its long-term goal: to build a prosperous and independent community free from poverty.
Learn more: www.shcccambodia.org
Benjamin Faivovitch, 24
Emprendejoven (Youth Entrepreneurship)
Santiago, Chile
Benjamin started Emprendejoven to encourage young people, ages 14 to 18, to embrace entrepreneurship as a way of life. Through emphasizing experimentation and “learning by failing,” the initiative develops youths’ noncognitive skills (e.g., self-esteem, motivation, persistence). The result? Those youth who were taught by teachers trained in the Emprendejoven methodology four years ago are now experiencing an average salary increase of 8 percent over those who did not complete the program. Since it was launched in 2008, Emprendejoven has worked with 25,000 students and is now collaborating with the national government in its efforts to integrate entrepreneurship and the development of non-cognitive skills into the educational curricula for all Chilean schools. In 2011, Benjamin received the ACCIONJOVEN award from Universidad Andres Bello, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network.
Gabriela Chumpitaz Aguirre, 28
Pinoteca
Lima, Peru
Through Pinoteca, Gabriela promotes the positive development of children, ages 5-12, through actively engaging parents, teachers, volunteers, government authorities, and the community at large in meeting students’ educational needs. Among its activities, Pinoteca facilitates learning through interactive games and role playing, delivers life skills instruction (e.g., in teamwork, active listening, and leadership), and conducts workshops for teachers to maximize student engagement in the classroom. Parents also receive training in how to support their children’s education at home, with youth volunteers equipped with the skills needed to mentor children at school. Pinoteca also implements campaigns on themes such as violence prevention that promote children’s rights and safety. In 2011, Gabriela was recognized with a Champions of Change Award by Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network.
Learn more: www.afiperu.org
Tolulope Sangosanya, 29
LOTS Charity Foundation
Lagos, Nigeria
Through the LOTS Charity Foundation, Tolulope transforms the lives of vulnerable children through providing education, health care, and training in life and leadership skills, while advocating on their behalf. Through the program, disadvantaged young people living in the Dustbin Estate, a slum community on the outskirts of Lagos, benefit from instruction in literacy, financial management, reproductive health, and computer usage, with one balanced meal provided per day. Emphasis is placed on intervening in the family lives of children who are at risk of living on the street. “Our goal,” says Tolulope, “is to prepare children to be world class leaders through education.” Learn more: www.lotscharityfoundation.org
Lachlan Ritchie, 26
Dismantle
Fremantle, Australia
Lachlan co-founded Dismantle, a social enterprise, to empower people to adopt cycling as a part of their everyday lives, for the betterment of the individual, the community, and the planet. The Dismantle concept centers around the notion that bicycles are a powerful tool for social change — enabling people to be healthier, happier, more environmentally-friendly, and connected to their community. Among its activities, Dismantle operates a community bicycle recycling workshop and empowers disadvantaged youth, ages 15 to 20, to refurbish used bikes. The youth not only gain valuable life and technical skills but work experience. Through its corporate wellness program, Dismantle educates and encourages company employees to integrate cycling into their day-to-day activities. Revenues from the program support Dismantle’s charitable work. In 2011, Lachlan was recognized as a Young Social Pioneer by the Foundation for Young Australians, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network. Learn more: www.dismantle.org.au
Gökden Ipek Yosunlu, 21
My Mother's Rug
Mersin, Turkey
Through the My Mother’s Rug initiative, Gokden empowers low-income, rural women to make rugs out of recycled fabric and links them to urban markets. The women beneficiaries of the project earn an average of US$430 per month — contributing not only to their family’s income but their sense of self-worth. A student majoring in international relations and law at Istanbul Bilgi University, Gokden sees herself as a bridge builder, connecting rural women to opportunities in urban areas. With leftover curtain fabric used to make the rugs, the project pursues both a social and environmental mission. In 2011, Gokden was recognized with a Young Social Entrepreneurs Award by Istanbul Bilgi University, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network.
Learn more: http://anneminkilimleri.weebly.com
Nicole Le Roux, 25
I Am Somebody!
Cape Town, South Africa
Through “I Am Somebody!,” Nicole uses the art of storytelling to build diverse communities committed to supporting the development of youth leaders. Its goal: to build a network of strong relationships among individuals and organizations that results in integrated solutions to young people’s needs. Through its Partner Exchange Program, I Am Somebody! facilitates the exchange of valuable resources and expertise among youth-serving nonprofit organizations. Its Community Building program consists of storytelling events and individual relationship building, while its Mentorship program provides critical training. These programs offer a network of support for young adults, ages 18-25, participating in its 18-month Rites of Passage program, a personal development initiative that encourages youth to address issues related to integration that affect their ability to achieve their goals. Learn more: www.iamsomebody.co.za.
Miriam Reyes Oliva, 26
Cuentos para Aprendices Visuales (Books for Visual Learners)
El Puerto de Santa Mariana, Spain
An estimated 200,000 children in Spain have autism, a disease that affects up to 64 million children worldwide. Through Books for Visual Learners, Miriam develops print and online educational materials for children with autism. The books feature pictograms which have been found particularly effective in facilitating learning among autistic children. Central to Miriam’s efforts is making these materials free to the public. Her first book, which explores everyday tasks children perform, has been downloaded more than 4,000 times. In 2011, Miriam was awarded the Young Social Entrepreneurs Prize from Universidad Europea de Madrid, a member of the YouthActionNet® Global Network.
Learn more: www.aprendicesvisuales.com
