Baltimore, Maryland, USA -- The 2008 YouthActionNet® Global Fellows are a group of outstanding young social entrepreneurs who are distinguished by their innovative approaches to addressing urgent social and environmental needs. This year’s recipients include a 20-year-old in Pakistan who is working to put an end to the practice of honor killing in her community and a 29-year-old in Brazil who creates jobs through transforming non-recyclable waste into works of art.

 

Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia, YouthActionNet® seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world.

 

"From harnessing the power of technology to combat drug counterfeiting to using bicycles as a potent rural development tool, this year’s YouthActionNet® Fellows are true social entrepreneurs – developing creative solutions to foster lasting social change,” said IYF President and CEO William S. Reese.

 

Martin Sandelin, Vice-President – CSR and Community Involvement at Nokia, said, "We offer our hearty congratulations to each of this year’s Fellows who are working tirelessly to improve their local and global communities. Each took action to address a critical social challenge. Each successfully mobilized the public will and support needed to make a real difference in the lives of others.”