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Youth Social Entrepreneurs Gain Skills, Inspire Others, during week-long Meeting in Washington, DC
On November 16, young leaders from around the world challenged and inspired their audience at an awards ceremony held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. The event, which was organized by the International Youth Foundation’s YouthActionNet program, recognized the Fellows for their efforts to address urgent needs in their communities, such as preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, advocating for the rights of women and the disabled, feeding the hungry, and rehabilitating child soldiers. During a discussion on global youth leadership, governmental, NGO, and diplomatic leaders from the Washington, D.C. area heard the personal insights and stories of nearly 20 YouthActionNet fellows. “Young people are willing to take risks that adults are not; we are bold because we are driven by a vision for the world,” said David Bacon, 26, who empowers women in Cambodia by training them to make carpets. “There is injustice and inequality everywhere and people are afraid to speak up so we must do something,” added Gautam Gupta, a 25-year old from India who mobilizes youth to end violence against women.
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