Fifteen young leaders were recognized for their outstanding social change initiatives at the “UVM Prize for Social Development” ceremony held November 9th at the Polyforum Siqueiros Cultural and Mural Center in Mexico City, Mexico. Sponsored by the Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM) and supported by the International Youth Foundation and the Sylvan/Laureate Foundation, the UVM Prize for Social Development recognizes youth-led social projects that are having a significant impact on their local communities. The 15 young people from 9 different states and Mexico City honored at the ceremony will benefit from two training sessions, online learning modules, and a $2,000 stipend.

 

The awards program represents a unique collaboration of the Sylvan/Laureate Foundation, the Universidad del Valle de Mexico, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and its YouthActionNet program. YouthActionNet is a Nokia-supported initiative that invests in the power and promise of young people to create positive change at the local and global levels.

 

“Every day, in some place in our country, a young person works on a specific cause, develops a new project, and decides to be part of a group of people who support others,” said Ricardo Serrano, a UVM Prize winner. “This is exactly the spirit of solution seeking and generosity that has gathered us all here today.”