Youth Venture Blog

Radicalizing children... for tolerance

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Superheroes are known to scale building walls, fly through the air, and rescue civilians in distress. Have you met any who tear down cultural barriers and build communities of acceptance? I'm guessing you haven't, so let me have the pleasure of introducing you to The 99.

Clinical psychologist turned comic creator, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, saw the power in children to reverse cultural stereotypes and intolerance. And so, he decided to put cultural education into one of the most cherished youth hobbies -- comics. He created The 99, a group of superheroes based on Islamic archetype that fights for the hearts and minds of children who have been taught to use their religion for hate.

"My mission was simple," said Al-Mutawa in his 2011 Ted Global Talk "to create positive role models based on values that all of humanity shares, and in so doing, bridge the gap between East and West."

Sadly, the Islamic cast did not debut without great criticism. Parties in the United States accused the stories of "radicalizing children," and it took much longer for the series to gain publication and acceptance in the U.S. However, just like his heroes, Naif overcame prejudice and finally created a comic cross-over where all superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and The 99 stand cape to shoulder, saving the world blind to religion and culture.

The 99 is now an animated series and film showing in many countries around the world, and President Obama has endorsed the comics as "perhaps the most innovative response [to interfaith dialogue]."

For more inspiration, check out Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa's TED Talk!

A grant that could make your dreams come true

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

This post was written by YV intern Stephanie Arzate

Disney is looking to make your dreams come true by funding the projects of young change makers that are out there making a difference in their communities. The Disney Friends for Change grant gives youth between the ages of 5-18 a chance to receive a $1,000 grant to help make a positive impact in the lives of others.

If you think you could be the right fit, apply here. But hurry – the deadline is February 29, 2012.

Innovation Beyond Computers

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

This post was written by YV intern Stephanie Arzate

“The Dell Social Innovation Challenge identifies and supports promising young social innovators who dedicate themselves to solving the world's most pressing problems with their transformative ideas.”

Sound familiar?

This past week, I've had the opportunity to learn about many YV teams that are out in their communities making a remarkable impact with their creative and innovative ideas. So let me share this opportunity that will allow you to continue being great changemakers even when you are in college. For those of you already in college or heading off to college next year, this is a great way to strengthen all your hard work at YV!

For more information on the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, click here.

Competition to teach what matters

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

A New Generation of Global Changemakers

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

This post was written by YV intern Stephanie Arzate

Hello everyone, my name is Stephanie Arzate, and I am the newest intern at Ashoka’s Youth Venture. I am a freshman at Georgetown University’s School or Foreign Service where I plan to major in Culture and Politics. At first glance I might not seem like the most cosmopolitan person out there but when you look a little deeper you can see where my heritage truly stems from.

My light complexion and grey contacts have fooled many over the years. Most people discover that I am not Caucasian after a simple phone call. Once the phone rings, I will pick up and have a quick, fast paced conversation with my mother discussing my whereabouts – in Spanish. As soon as I hang up, I often find those in my company dazed and perplexed. “You speak Spanish?”

Indeed I do, yet I have been mistaken for being Lebanese and Irish, German and Spanish. Once, while I was on a trip to Guatemala, my group leader asked me if I was French even after he heard me speaking Spanish. Another time, after I missed the bus, a Turkish taxi driver said he had decided to give me a ride because he thought I was Muslim. Both of my parents hail from Iguala de la Independencia, a small town in Southern Mexico and the birthplace of the Mexican flag.

Growing up, I was often bothered by the confusion of my background but as I grew up, I began to see it as an asset. The ambiguity behind my cultural background has given me the ability to immerse myself in the dozens of cultures that I love the most. My style is nothing short of worldwide glamour. I’m often wearing my handmade huipil, the traditional attire for Guatemalan women, or sporting my Nepali and Indian purses. I am not only Mexican, or American, or Mexican-American, but a citizen of the world.

From the moment I stepped foot into the YV offices, I was immediately fascinated by all the global artifacts that filled the corner of everyone’s offices. The walls are filled with pictures of Ventures from around the world, showcasing the different cultures of Washington, DC and abroad. Because of this I am extremely excited to be a part of YV. Venturers understand that they are a new generation of global citizens and seek not only to help their local community but to make an impact that transcends numerous borders.

TED Dream Job

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

We <3 TED.

So, to see that a job - any job - is open at TED, we're pretty excited. Too bad we love our YV jobs way too much. BUT, this position is for you, dear changemakers! And it looks AWESOME.

They're looking for a TED Fellows Associate in New York, which will be helping to organize and execute all aspects of the TED Fellows program, including, but not limited to:

1. Fellow Selection
   * Managing the logistics of the application process (including research, outreach, and organization of the application and interview processes)
    * Helping with the selection process

2. Pre-conference + Conference Responsibilities
    * Helping to coordinate various Fellowship activities for TED and TEDGlobal
    * Helping to execute all Fellowship activities onsite at TED and TEDGlobal

3. Online Responsibilities
    * Managing the TED Fellows social media outlets (including Facebook, Twitter, blog)
    * Helping to coordinate the monthly TED Fellows newsletter
    * Managing the TED Fellows Network

Experience: 2 - 4 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, event production, or a selective process oriented position (such as, college admissions or fellowship program).

Skills: The ideal candidate will possess: B.A. or B.S., excellent verbal and written communications, project management experience, excellent organization skills and attention to detail, event planning experience and the ability to on-your-feet problem solve. Fluency in multiple languages is a huge plus.

If this isn't for you, there's more! Positions include expertise in technology and media, storytelling, editing, and TEDx management! Check 'em all out here!

Empathy: The ticket to disrupting higher education

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

After rescuing five children from a river excursion, Youth Venturer and competitive swimmer, Laura White, was inspired to teach swim lessons to children from low income communities. Now, the founder of Swim 4 Success and Tulane University student shares her insight on empathy's role in disrupting Innovation in Higher Education.

This post was written by Amy Holiday, senior at Tulane University and member of the Ashoka U Live team. It was originally published on Ashoka's CHANGE INSIGHT blog on January 11, 2012.

This is the first of a series of posts featuring Exchange participants discussing “Disruptive Innovation in Higher Education.”

When you ask Laura White about reforming higher education, she doesn’t suggest lofty bureaucratic changes. She doesn’t talk about funding, tuition, or budget cuts. When White envisions positive changes in education, she sees one principle as the fulcrum: empathy.

A former Ashoka Youth Venture participant originally from Atlanta, White created and led her own non-profit venture to bring free swimming lessons to underprivileged kids. She has traveled the world studying different models of innovative education. She understands empathy, and thinks she knows how to bring it back to universities.

“In early childhood education, we understand the importance of social and emotional development. And so with that curriculum, there is more freedom to talk about warmth and empathy and how we care for other people,” White said. “And I think that that focus needs to be extended because we lose that when students enter higher grades.”

When students reach college, for the first time since young childhood they have the freedom and autonomy to explore academically and socially. But rarely do universities use this space as a means to educate students to improve the world they live in. The disruption needed in higher education, White believes, is a vehicle to get students thinking about, leveraging, and caring about one another.

“Universities have to make a commitment that higher education is about improving society,” she said, “and they have to provide resources and freedom for students to learn that, and then to create and innovate.”

White is looking forward to this AshokaU Exchange for the opportunity to network with “untraditional circles.” A lever of change in Tulane University’s journey of becoming a leader in social innovation education, White was the program manager of the school’s first AshokaU leadership team. She has worked with many professors, students and administrators on developing curriculum and initiatives on campus, and has partnered with professor Dr. Carol Whelan of Tulane’s teacher certification program to give students the opportunity to create and implement innovative projects in local schools that address a social need.

“I think that if there’s a need that you see, you should be able to go out and solve it,” she said. “And not all young people feel that way, or are in a school that feels that way. The AshokaU Exchange is my favorite conference because it’s the most transformative group of people around.”

And White sees the AshokaU gatherings as an extraordinary breeding grounds for these types of disruptive ideas – ideas that turn people from apathy towards empathy.

White’s current project was sparked at the second AshokaU Summit in Washington, D.C. in 2010. There, she met Alan Webb, a former AshokaU student and graduate of the University of Virginia. The two partnered up to answer the question of how to make community-based education accessible to all students.

After working tirelessly to learn about how students learn and what universities offer, the two have created a new model of spreading and sharing knowledge that empowers students to be changemakers. Called Citizen Circles, the concept is a way to help young professionals and students self-organize learning groups around their interests, skills and passions.

“The purpose is to get groups and people asking the question of how they can make a difference and what resources and learning experiences they need to become the changemakers they want to become,” she said.

Citizen Circles is built on the ideas of empathy and community as ways to shift how students learn. White founded a student group at Tulane, called Women in Social Innovation, according to this model; it is a group of women who come together to discuss their journeys towards becoming changemakers, and build upon the experiences and support from other group members. The groups are inherently community-based, with their success based on the ideas and interests of its members.

“It’s not going to be one person that comes up with the big idea to solve all of our problems. It’s going to be a lot of people making changes and differences in little ways,” she said. “Because you can’t just scale one great idea all the time. Often it takes community-based solutions.”

And isn’t that what empathy is all about? It’s about sharing. It’s about trusting. It’s about growing together as a team. And these, of course, are all lessons from early childhood.

Volunteer! Changemakers in diabetes communities around the world

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:04:00 +0000

When Youth Venturers Nick and Jesse traveled to Ecuador during high school, they we shocked by the devastating effects that diabetes had on small communities. Children and their families lacked access to information about diabetes basics, like insulin management and proper nutrition. So, the pair set their sights on developing a summer camp for diabetes education.

Sixteen years later, AYUDA is recognized as an international leader in the development and delivery of diabetes education, advocacy, and youth empowerment. The organization is changing lives each summer in Ecuador and the Dominican Republic through volunteer-run summer camps for youth and their families.

Do you have a passion for youth and health? Do you speak Spanish, or are looking to improve it? Want to travel to South America? This volunteer opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any age! No diabetes knowledge is required.

The deadline to apply is February 1st, so apply now! For more information, visit AYUDA online or email Maria at mvelasquez@ayudainc.net

Spice up your summer with some sizzling changemaking!

Changemaker Stories: How food connects Ventures in the San Francisco Bay Area

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:43:00 +0000

"You have to plant the seeds for future generations because all together, all we're trying to do is make the world a better place," says Paul of Oakland Food Connection. Watch these four inspiring videos about the stories behind Ventures started in the San Francisco Bay Area. The mini-documentaries were created by the Perry Film Fellow students from the Ballard Center of Brigham Young University. Thank you for telling our story so beautifully!

When Tionne was homeless, she came to believe that a person's worth is related to what she or he eats and what they have access to consume. Now, with the help of Youth Venture, Tionne and friends run a mobile farm stand called the Alameda Point Collaborative. "It's a good thing to know that I'm feeding other people," Tionne says. "I have the potential to do so much. I want to be remembered as that girl who made a change in someone's life." Watch Tionne's story.

Meet Ennis who joined Youth Venture a year ago in West Oakland. He was energized by a group of students planning to deliver produce to corner stores by bike twice a week. "It was exciting. It's different. I'd never been a part of something so big." Now he runs the show and sees a future as a leader. "This is going to become the stepping stones to what I do later on in life... I'm going to be a leader." Watch Ennis' story.

"I was trying to be somebody I wasn't," says Paul, a self-proclaimed neighborhood dancer. "The things you go through in life make you who you are." Now Paul and Kevin run Oakland Food Connection, an urban farm and community farmers market stand. They hope more young people are inspired to contribute to the community. "Oakland Food Connection made me who I am. And I love who I am!" Watch Paul and Kevin's story.

Internships, summits, and programs galore!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Take your skills to the next level, strengthen your Venture's network, and refine your leadership and social entrepreneurial skills with these opportunities and workshops.

Congressional Youth Leadership Council - Offering educational leadership conferences and programs for outstanding young people from the U.S. and the world for all ages and interests. For high school: National Young Leaders Conference - Against the backdrop of our nation's capital, gain a greater understanding of democracy and refine your leadership skills. For the younger folks, check out Junior NYLC!

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - Exchange programs enhance young people's cultural understanding, academic interests, and leadership skills.

National Youth Leadership Council - As the leader of service learning, NYLC engages students in education and builds community through their Youth Advisory Council, National Service-Learning Conference, summer youth leadership training, plus many more programs.

International Youth Leadership Conference - A week-long conference on world politics, international relations, and justice in Prague, Czech Republic: January 8-13, 2012.

Clinton Global Initiative University -based on the international model of CGI, the university program engages students, national organizations, topic experts, and celebrities together for discussion and collaboration. Young people can participate by attending the annual conference and by becoming a Campus Representative for their college.

Idealist.org - The ultimate do-gooder internship and job site! "Idealist connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives."

Photo credit: Clinton Global Initiative Service Project 2011

NobleHour Video Contest for $500!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0000

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: '"What are you doing for others?'"

NobleHour, a community-driven social platform for people and organizations, is offering $500 to hear what you are doing for others. Make a short, original video describing your efforts, and in honor of the MLK Day of Service, your submission will be entered to win a $500 Award to help your school, nonprofit organization, community, or civic group . The top 5 contestants will also receive a free NobleHour community to help manage their civic engagement.

Submissions are due January 7, 2012. For more information contact mlkinfo@noblehour.com and see official rules and regulations before creating.

Youth Venturers make the cut!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Here at Youth Venture we only work with the most ambitious and adventurous young people -- all of YOU changemakers. But the rest of the world isn't as fortunate. And so, Forbes' 30 Under 30 list is pretty darn helpful for introducing some of the world's most influential young people. Twelve topical lists cover the young movers and shakers in different industries. From Technology to Music, Real Estate to Design, here are the young people to work for, collaborate with, and watch after.

A huge congratulations goes to our very own Youth Venturers who made the list: Jonny Cohen, Javier Fernandez-Han, Eden Full, and Vivek Nair. We are so proud!

May I get some light with my Coca Cola, please?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Check out how a soda bottle, water, a little chlorine, and simple tools can provide 55 watts of light to homes in the Philippines. Social entrepreneurship at its finest!

Video: Venture teaches Something Real

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:00 +0000

The Seattle Venture, Something Real Productions, inspires young people to connect with their passion and create a positive impact on the global community. By planning events like bboy contests and concerts, the Venture has gained valuable business skills, while motivating other young people to be changemakers.

Check out this great video by Something Real Productions!

When chocolate coins don't work

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Hide and seek may have been an exhilarating game when you were younger, but it's not a pleasant activity when you're searching for funds to bring your ideas to life. Luckily, we have a couple places where you can start looking!

If your team needs to raise more money to make a bigger impact, we have resources to help you out! Youth Venture will help you determine your goals and the amount your team needs to raise in order to select the best fundraising option.

Option 1: Create your own branded product line. A product can be from key chains to reusable water bottles – Youth Venture will purchase them for your team as a loan and customize them to reflect your cause. If your goal is to bring clean water to impoverished villages, it's sensible to sell reusable water bottles. You’ll get to brand the bottles with your project’s name, logo, and cause. The money from its sale can help fund your venture!

Here is an example of how thousands of young students around the U.S. are helping thirsty students in Africa through socially responsible product sales:

When young students from the United States learned that many African schools don’t have running water and it was common for thirsty students to skip school so they can fetch water miles away, they decided to help out. They joined together to sell their own branded label of reusable water bottles to bring clean water to the students.

They were able to raise enough money to install PlayPumps in South African schools and communities where kids spinning the merry-go-around would actually pump up water from wells. Students focused on running their projects and selling their products without having to worry about the behind-the-scenes manufacturing, branding, and marketing of the bottles to make this project a reality.

Option 2: Mobilize your network for “crowdfunding.” The beauty of crowdfunding lies in the collaboration with other supporters of the mission or cause to alleviate social problems. Your team can also meet and get inspired by other passionate, like-minded fellows committed to social change.

Unlike selling branded products to raise money, crowdfunding is done all online. The challenge, then, is finding ways to inspire your supporters to donate money towards your project. This approach is great for teams that have established and are looking to grow their operation and impact.

Asking for donations for a cause sounds a lot like some of the traditional charities you might hear about, but crowdfunding works more like a competition – there is a time limit to achieving the goal. First, set the amount you want to raise and you have until the deadline to reach your goal; otherwise, usually your project won’t be funded. Having the deadline helps build momentum and urgency for your project. So it is crucial to figure out ways to reach out to and galvanize your supporters and harness their collective power to get the project funded.

To beat the time crunch successfully, your team needs an organized plan and Youth Venture will help you develop that. We will also help with the outreach for gathering supporters and donations!

Every team has different needs and goals, so before you get started, Youth Venture can help you evaluate which methods of fundraising is best . Whether you are just getting started or are already making big, positive impact on the world, in the end, we are all connected by the common goal of creating a happier, healthier, and a more peaceful place to live.

If you want to start fundraising, don’t hesitate to let us know! Contact Rachel in the global office at yvdc@youthventure.org to get your efforts off the ground!

"One of those days" by Venturer Scott Warren

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:58:00 +0000

This blog post was written by Youth Venturer Scott Warren for his organization, Generation Citizen on December 13, 2011. We love his perspective on failure and what it means to both live and work.

You can tell you’re going to have “one of those days” pretty early on. Before 9 AM, I had forgotten to bring shorts to the gym (so I worked out in pants), forgotten my cell phone charger (and my phone ran out of battery as soon as I got to work) and as I got ready to make my morning coffee, I spilled the grounds all over the kitchen (when that all happens before 9 AM, you should probably go home and start over).

The day got worse. Or at least I perceived it to. I felt completely off my game. I screwed up my personal life. I felt behind on our annual giving campaign. Three people canceled meetings on me. I unnecessarily got cross and annoyed with a team member. And before I knew it, it was 7 PM, and in addition to a still-full e-mail inbox, I had a Red bull, double espresso, and beer all sitting next to me on my desk.

Everybody has days like this. But for social entrepreneurs, they can be more pronounced. There’s a fairly simple logic behind this. When you’re starting something you believe in, work is life: it has to be. Therefore, if work sucks, so does life. And vice versa. So it seems. That’s what it felt like today. And then the spiral leads to thoughts of failure. Fear of me personally failing Generation Citizen. Fear of me failing personally.

So I went home, had a drink, and watched some really bad football. Then I read this: http://www.waldenu.edu/About-Us/38170.htm. A commencement speech by Cheryl Dorsey, Echoing Green’s President, on failure. It’s utterly brilliant. We spend our whole life afraid of failing and it completely hamstrings us. As Cheryl eloquently states, we shouldn’t be afraid of failing. Rather, “Failure is not a dirty word, a socially unacceptable outcome that has to be talked about in hushed tones. Reaching for something that seems so improbable, and maybe it is, but means everything to you is the very definition of opportunity and the lifeblood of all social change movements.”

Here’s the thing: at the end of a day like today, I’m okay. I’m more than okay. And even if GC fails, I will be okay. And so will my team. I believe in it, deeply. But the opportunity to engage in this experiment, to see how far we can take this organization and this idea, is pretty powerful in its own right. I can still fail. But it’s a little different from failing a few years ago when I was a staff of one and affecting 80 kids a year.

But there’s another thing that all social entrepreneurs have a hard time recognizing: work is not life. It’s a big part of it. But it’s not all of it. I think sometimes I have confused doing good work, which I believe GC is, with being a good person. They are related, but they are not one in the same. I have bulldozed family, friends, relationships because of an obsessive desire to work. But it’s actually an obsessive desire to not fail. I can take an hour to turn off my phone and be present in the now. But I don’t. I need to check my e-mail…to see what’s happening at work. Why?

The dirty little secret is that I have no idea what I’m doing, work or personal. I feel like most of us don’t. I put up a front: in work, we’ve created a 5-year plan, systems, and a high-functioning team. But in actuality, each day is a completely different challenge. If creating an organization like this were easy, it would have been done.

And so I’ll wake up again tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll remember shorts and my cell phone charger and not spill the coffee. But it’s still going to be a complete challenge. So instead of complaining about my day and fearing failure, I can only embrace it: this amazing and unique opportunity to create something out of nothing with a completely inspiring cast of supporters and teammates. And the opportunity to carve a life full of love and adventure. I have no idea what I’m doing. But I’m damn well going to try harder to do good work, and try harder to be a good person.

-Scott

Photo credit

YV and Ashoka Fellows make an impact

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:27:00 +0000

For the very first time, Forbes has released a list of the world's top social entrepreneurs. Among this prestigious bunch are 10 Ashoka Fellows, one whom began as a Youth Venturer! Check out the full Top 30 list!

Congratulations to Ashoka Fellows: Rafael Alvarez, William Foote, Sam Goldman, Farell Hammond, Jordan Kassalow, Wendy Kopp, Josh Nesbit, Rebecca Onie, J.B. Schramm, and Jill Vialet.

About former Youth Venturer, current Ashoka Fellow - Josh Nesbit

Josh Nesbit spent the summer of his junior year of college researching access to malaria treatment in Malawi. For eight weeks, he lived and worked at St. Gabriel’s, a rural hospital first introduced to Josh by his mother, who is spearheading Malawi’s first physical therapy program at the region. It was there that he witnessed first hand the inefficiencies that limited the impact of community health care workers delivering care in remote regions.

He returned the next summer with 100 recycled cell phones, a donated computer, and a plan to coordinate communication between St. Gabriel and the expansive region under the hospital’s care using existing open-source text message software, FrontlineSMS. During that six month pilot project, which Josh dubbed Mobiles in Malawi, texting saved hospital staff 1,200 hours of follow up time, allowed the hospital to double the size of its tuberculosis program, brought home-based care to 130 patients who otherwise would not have received care, and saved antiretroviral therapy monitors 900 hours in travel time. The success of the project moved Josh to shelve his medical school plans in to devote his efforts full-time to transforming the community health worker system. With close collaborator Isaac Holeman, he soon founded, the organization that is today called Medic Mobile.

Now, Medic Mobile promotes decentralized medical care for the rural poor by maximizing the efficiency and efficacy of community based health care workers using mobile phone based communication systems. Instantaneous communication among community health workers and between community health workers and physicians and nurses at clinical hubs means that citizen health workers can provide care to their communities with much less dependence on a centralized medical facility. Because SMS is simple, affordable, and widespread, it represents a health care solution that can be championed at the most grassroots level. This factor was integral to Josh’s early idea, and continues to be a core foundation of Medic Mobile’s ongoing strategy.

Josh was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2011

A Family of Changemakers

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Venturers Jonny and Daniella Cohen were recently featured on Goyoung, a website that recognizes social entrepreneurs under thirty. Jonny founded GreenShields, a project that works to improve the aerodynamics of school buses in order to reduce their carbon footprint. His sister Daniella took a different route and created G.I.V.E. (Go, Innovate, Volunteer, and Educate), which builds friendships between students in Illinois and those of the SDIE school for orphans in Bangalore, India.

Goyoung created a video to tell the story of these changemaking siblings. Check it out and be inspired!

TEDxYouthMonterey: Inspiring Tomorrow, Today

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:10:00 +0000

This post was written by Lennon Flowers and published on Ashoka's Empathy Blog on Thursday, December 1st.

Earlier this month, we had the chance to take part in TEDxYouthMonterey, a day-long event co-hosted by the Monterey Institute for International Studies and Stevenson School, and a veritable army of volunteers and other community organizations. With the theme, “Inspire Tomorrow, Today,” the day drew a packed audience consisting almost exclusively of high school students from the local area, education enthusiasts, and powerful thinkers and doers who refused to subsist on the status quo.

There was Kendall Ronzano, whose NerdGirlHomes is empowering high school students to lend their hands—literally—to fighting homelessness, by building homes from start to finish, and donating them to families in need. An inventor from the time she could walk, Kendall set herself a goal of building a home before graduating high school, and realized that the millions of high school students across the country represented a powerful untapped resource. There was Joe Kochevar, who invented a new means of coding words through images, and shared a glimpse of what Steve Jobs might have looked like at 17. And there was Shandra Benito, a 19-year-old Youth Venturer, who founded a summer camp program for low-income youth as a participant in one of our “Dream It. Do It.” challenges several years ago, and who shared her thinking on the ripple effect that accompanies every action.

In her earliest years, Shandra was like every other happy and healthy baby. But when she reached two and a half and still had only one made-up word in her vocabulary, her parents began to worry. They took her to a specialist, who discovered she had a "mild to moderately severe" hearing disability. From that point forward, she entered a new normal: her first language was sign language and her parents enrolled her in an all-deaf pre-school, with the result that all of her friends were likewise hard of hearing.

It was only as she entered a public kindergarten that she discovered she was different. Sitting on the rainbow-colored carpet tiles on her first day, she looked around to find that no one else wore hearing aids; no one else had an interpreter; and no one else signed. And so, just like that, her disability became something to hide. She would wave off her parents anytime they signed in public, she hated the word "deaf," and spent recess befriending the librarian. When her parents offered to pay her to play outside, she pocketed the money, and took her books to read outdoors while the other children played.

But at the age of 10, all of that changed. Michael, the 18-year-old son of a family friend, came by the house, and the two ended up talking on the couch all day long. Shandra shared her fears about entering middle school, her embarrassment over her hearing aids, and the feelings of isolation that had been with her since that first day of kindergarten. Having a cool 18-year-old tell her that she should be proud of who she was and that she had nothing to fear was all it took. And so, upon entering the sixth grade—a time in which many kids falter, and begin a years-long journey toward dropping out—Shandra bloomed.

No longer afraid of being different, she carefully explained why she read lips and what it meant to be hard of hearing, and found that her peers were no less likely to talk to her. Her hearing aids, and the radio device she carried, become a makeshift walkie-talkie she and her friends used to communicate in class. But she found her disability had given her something, too: she would instinctively sit next to the kid alone at the cafeteria table, because she knew what that feeling was like.

Now 19 and a sophomore at Seattle University, she is the founder and leader of Reach Out, an organization that runs summer camps for low-income and underserved kids each year, offering the same sort of mentorship, encouragement, and willingness to listen that made such a profound difference in her own trajectory.

We wrote earlier this week about the Bystander Effect: the tendency for individuals, when in groups, to stand by, hoping someone else will intervene to help a person in need. But thats's a tendency that can be countered.

Every child knows what it is to feel alone, and similarly what it is to make someone feel alone: the key, then, is giving students the confidence and self-determination required for applied empathy.

If the speakers at TEDxYouthMonterey—and those who participated in the hundreds of TEDxYouth events around the world—were any indication, that message is coming in loud and clear. It’s a good thing, too: we could all stand to hear a little more good news in the world.

The Big Apple is in for some serious change

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:42:00 +0000

In partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim and NYU, Youth Venture has just kicked off a Dream It. Do It. High School Challenge in the greater New York region. This initiative will enable high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and corporate employees to build critical 21st century changemaking skills through a regional campaign for high schoolers by which they develop ideas and innovations in creating healthy communities.

Over 85 high school students representing 25+ schools across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut convened at New York University's Stern School of Business on Sunday, November 13 for the first of a series of workshops that will continue through February 2012. The initiative will culminate with a community panel during which teams will present their ideas for Youth Venture seed funding and fellowship. Tremendous thanks goes out to Ashoka staff Cosmo Fujiyama who oversees the engagement along with a terrific team of NYU Ambassadors: Heidi Sloane, Bethany Halbreich, Clayton Lewis, Simone Johnson, Aileen Jiang, and Lily Astiz.

New York Changemakers... Onward!

Dewalio Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Clothing makes a statement and can influence people through its design and messages. But what if these messages were useful and positive? This idea led Alex Jeffery, a 17-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, to launch Dewalio Clothing Company last September.

Dewalio is integrating positive messages into fresh, modern, and stylish designs that are appealing and wearable by everyone. The company also aims to iron out many issues in today’s clothing industry including slave labor and the lack of clothing in third world countries. Sadly, not many brands in the industry are occupied with resolving these major issues. Dewalio stands apart from the rest by advocating for change.

The Dewalio brand encompasses much more than clothing, utilizing the power of fashion to create change and improve quality of life. The more people behind the brand, the larger the potential impact on the world. If you want to get in on this new age clothing brand, join Delawio on Facebook, Twitter, and their website.

Join a Venturer's Webinar on December 6th

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:34:00 +0000

A desire to communicate messages is woven within the fabric of the human identity. However, this idea is arguably truer for those charged with the responsibility to take action against a social cause. Youth leaders from Greening Forward’s Earth Savers Club Program have developed an ultimate guide to help you raise awareness for your social cause. Leveraging online, print, video, and audio platforms, one has the potential to reach an audience ready to be educated, engaged, and empowered.

Tune in on December 6th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm EST. Register now and we'll send you log in details closer to the date!

The Global Engagement Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:43:00 +0000

“Creating a community of the next generation of global change leaders.”

Hey Changemakers! If you’re looking for an awesome opportunity to learn more about social change then you should apply to participate in Northwestern’s Global Engagement Summit (GES)! The GES is a week-long capacity building conference for students (college-aged and older) committed to global change and social enterprise. There’s going to be inspiring workshops, panels, speakers, and amazing people.

The GES strives to empower students to make the change they wish to see in the world, and produce responsible solutions to shared global problems.

Apply online as an American delegate or an International delegate. Applications will be accepted until December 15th!

Photo credit: theges.org

Beyond Literacy: Teaching Children the Joy of Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:52:00 +0000

"Somebody who is an active learner is curious and not afraid to imagine and be creative." Andrea Ruiz, founder of the Global Youth Initiative

Meet Andrea Cristina Ruiz, a young woman committed to spreading literacy and a love of reading to students around the world. After moving to Miami as a teenager, Andrea maintained a connection to her native Ecuador, becoming increasingly aware of the lack of libraries and reading material in disadvantaged schools. At age 15, she and a few friends came together to start a library in Ecuador, eventually creating the Global Youth Initiative. Since then, GYI has started 12 libraries in Latin America and contributed books to three schools in inner-city Miami.

Today Andrea studies Economics and International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She is blown away at how much GYI has accomplished in only a few years: “I was 15, and it was something that I cared about, but I didn’t really have any idea it would get so large.” Andrea’s story demonstrates the fact that you are never too young to be a changemaker.

Andrea was recently featured in Briefing, the newsletter of GW’s Elliot School of International Affairs. Check out the article to learn more about GYI and to watch a video interview with Andrea.

Unleashing the Power of IdEAS

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqui, YV Staff) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:49:00 +0000

This week's post was written by YV Intern Amanda Frank.

Global Entrepreneurship Week was launched last Monday with “Unleashing IdEA,” an event that examined the entrepreneurial potential of diaspora communities. IdEA (International Diaspora Engagement Alliance) is a new initiative of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. It offers support to diaspora communities (first or second generation immigrants) interested in investing in their countries of origin.

IdEA is not just a new program but a new philosophy. It asks how remittances (money sent to family back home) can be turned into long term investments. Diaspora entrepreneurs are unique in that they are not merely driven by profit; instead, they possess a genuine desire to enhance the quality of life in their countries of origin. IdEA offers the resources necessary for a new generation of diaspora entrepreneurs to make a lasting difference in these countries.

For more information on this exciting initiative, visit the IdEA website.