Young Leaders Share Lessons Learned at Thunderbird Panel

Today marks the end of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013. Here at YouthActionNet we have spent the week celebrating stories of young people who turned ideas into action. Their bottom lines may be mission-based, but their sustainability plans and strategic partnerships make it clear: they are entrepreneurs in the truest sense of the word. 
 
Last week, Thunderbird School of Global Management hosted a panel discussion, “The Future of Social Entrepreneurship.” The event was moderated by Robert Hisrich, director of Thunderbird’s Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship, and featured four emerging social entrepreneurs and students of Laureate International Universities.

Project photo from Costas Verdes

Daniel Uribe, a Fellow from YouthActionNet's Premio Yo Creo program in Costa Rica, participated in the discussion. A Biology student at Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Daniel is also the President of Costas Verdes, an NGO working to rebuild and protect coastal forests and beaches in Costa Rica. As a young leader, Daniel has learned a lot about how to be both visionary and practical in his changemaking endeavors. 

During the panel, Daniel gave tips for other social entrepreneurs:

1. Make financial stability your number one priority: You can't expand your reach or deepen your impact if you are constantly worried about funding. 

2. Learn to say no: The hardest thing is to say "no" to potential partners with attractive offers--remember to stay focused on tackling the issues central to your mission.

3. A leader doesn't do it all: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Remember to delegate--build a team who you trust to manage the details.

4. Leave time for yourself: Your organization may be sustainable, but are you? If you are always burned out, you aren't open to experiencing the joys of working on issues you are passionate about. Take a step back and remember why you are doing this work.

Watch the video below to hear responses from the other social entrepreneurs. Additional videos from the event can be found here. 



To learn more about how Laureate supports young social entrepreneurs, click here.

Philippine Fellows Mobilize Typhoon Relief Efforts

Here at YouthActionNet, we tell the stories of our Fellows' extraordinary impact--their beneficiaries, expansive volunteer networks, and innovative revenue generation strategies. Our Fellows' impact, though, goes beyond the work they do as founders and CEOs. On a personal level, they can't resist acting on the compulsion to right the wrongs in our world.

Anna carries emergency supplies

Knowing the selflessness of our Fellows, it wasn't a surprise to see that just hours after the devastating typhoon in the Philippines last week, our local alumni were hard at work, spreading messages of resilience and forging partnerships to address urgent needs and long-term rebuild efforts.

2013 Laureate Global Fellow Anna Oposa founded Save Philippine Seas to teach children and communities how to love and protect precious aquatic resources. One of the schools that Anna works with on the island of Malapascua was badly damaged during the unprecedented storm. Anna made her way back to the island this week and captured these heartbreaking images. On her blog, Anna explains:

 "The last few days have proven that the bigger the heartbreak, the greater the comfort...We are very grateful for everyone’s support and are fully committed to rebuild Malapascua with a vengeance." 

All donations made to Save Philippine Seas at this time will  go toward rebuilding the elementary school. Due to heavy activity, the organization's PayPal account is temporarily on hold, but you can donate using banking instructions listed below.

Anna has also partnered with other young changemakers in an effort called Bundles of Joy and Letters of Hope. Currently working to reach survivors in areas that have not yet been reached by other aid, the grassroots initiative is delivering emergency supplies (bundles of joy) with a "letter of hope" from the local and international community to show encouragement and solidarity. Join the efforts by donating via PayPal and leaving a letter of hope on their Facebook wall. 

Rainbow over Tacloban, photo by Raffy Tima

Fellow Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, founder of Rags2Riches, a social enterprise that creates eco-ethical fashion through working with artisans in low-income communities, is another YouthActionNet alumna who sprang into action by mobilizing the shipment of supplies to those who need them most. Leveraging her vast social network to connect donors, carrier companies, and volunteers, she's making sure that those looking to help know where to direct their efforts. Reese recently shared this photo of a rainbow over Tacloban one week after the typhoon struck with the caption "a promise of hope and better days to come." 

Currently living in Japan, Filipina Fellow Audrey Codera organized a private movement among her family and friends from all over the world to bring relief items to Ormoc, Leyte.  Her first shipment of goods for distribution will leave this weekend, courtesy of LBC Shipping. LBC is accepting free shipments to the Philippines for typhoon victims until November 30th. Visit their website to see if there is a branch near you. 

Workers begin producing toilets

While many volunteers are focusing on food, water, and shelter, Fellow Jed Sayre is hard at work addressing a sometimes overlooked issue--hygiene and sanitation. Jed is the Executive Director of ALLEY-NM, an environmental education and empowerment initiative that partners with the Water, Agroforestry, Nutrition, and Development Foundation (WAND) to build low-cost, eco-friendly toilets in low-income communities. It's easy to help Jed and his team via two Global Giving campaigns: help build low-cost toilets in Tacloban city, or contribute to a food security project promoting backyard gardening.

 It is inspiring to see the resilient spirit of our Fellows and the communities in which they live. While circumstances in hard-hit areas remain dire and the loss is great, we have hope knowing the future of the Philippines is in the helping hands of leaders like Anna, Reese, Jed, and Audrey.  

To donate to Save Philippine Seas, please follow the below banking instructions: Banco de Oro | Savings Account | NAME: Philippine Seatizens, Inc. |ACCOUNT NUMBER: 143 0146 735 | SWIFT CODE: BNORPHMM

The last few days have proven that the bigger the heartbreak, the greater the comfort. The support from the local and international community have been very overwhelming. We are very grateful for everyone’s support and are fully committed to rebuild Malapascua with a vengeance. - See more at: http://savephilippineseas.tumblr.com/post/66852519835/help-malapascua-network#sthash.Rlmn9G4k.dpuf

The last few days have proven that the bigger the heartbreak, the greater the comfort. The support from the local and international community have been very overwhelming. We are very grateful for everyone’s support and are fully committed to rebuild Malapascua with a vengeance. - See more at: http://savephilippineseas.tumblr.com/post/66852519835/help-malapascua-network#sthash.Rlmn9G4k.dpuf

The last few days have proven that the bigger the heartbreak, the greater the comfort. The support from the local and international community have been very overwhelming. We are very grateful for everyone’s support and are fully committed to rebuild Malapascua with a vengeance. - See more at: http://savephilippineseas.tumblr.com/post/66852519835/help-malapascua-network#sthash.Rlmn9G4k.dpuf

The last few days have proven that the bigger the heartbreak, the greater the comfort. The support from the local and international community have been very overwhelming. We are very grateful for everyone’s support and are fully committed to rebuild Malapascua with a vengeance. - See more at: http://savephilippineseas.tumblr.com/post/66852519835/help-malapascua-network#sthash.Rlmn9G4k.dpuf

Opportunities & Events: November and Beyond

As 2013 comes to a close, think about all that you have learned this year. Put that newfound knowledge to work for you by applying to one of the below opportunities. It's also a great time to start planning for events taking place next year--early bird registration rates won't last long! Here's to dreaming big in 2014, and getting a head start now!  

Opportunities 

The Hult Prize
HULT International Business School & Clinton Global Initiative
Deadline: November 15, 2013
How could you change the world with US$1 million? This year, more than 10,000 applicants will apply to the Hult Prize, and only 300 start-ups from around the world will move on to pitch their ideas at one of six global locations, including: Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai and São Paulo. While there is only one winner, each regional champion will spend the summer inside of the Hult Prize Accelerator—an innovative incubator for social enterprise and will receive a one-year CGI membership. Register now for the 2014 prize. 

Emerging Institutions Fellowship Program
LDI Africa
Deadline: January 31, 2014
LDI Africa is seeking young business and development leaders for its Emerging Institutions Fellowship Program (EIFP) across Africa. The EIFP provides pro-bono consulting opportunities in Africa's leading investment companies and social enterprises. Fellows participate in 6 to 12-month fellowships working to position African emerging businesses towards the path of long-term sustainability and scale. To learn more and apply, click here.

The Washington Fellowship
President’s Young African Leaders Initiative
Application opens in December
The Washington Fellowship is the new flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).  This program will bring over 500 young leaders to the United States each year, beginning in 2014, for leadership training and mentoring, and will create unique opportunities in Africa for these leaders to apply their new skills in propelling economic growth and prosperity, and strengthening democratic institutions. Stay tuned. Applications will be available in December. 

Venture Labs Investment Competition
University of Texas McCombs Business School
Deadline: February 21, 2014
The Venture Labs Investment Competition (VLIC) and its affiliated competitions are designed to mimic the real-world process of raising venture capital. The competition allows graduate students to gain real experience while developing and growing new ventures based on their own ideas and technologies or those developed by others. Teams from around the world compete prizes including a cash prize of $78,000, an invitation to close the NASDAQ OMX Stock Market, the Austin Technology Incubator Launch Package valued at $25,000, and consulting time with leaders in the field. Learn more about the rules and register now!

International Holcim Next Generation Award
Holcim Foundation
Deadline: March 24, 2014
The 4th International Holcim Awards competition celebrates projects and visions that contribute to a more sustainably-built environment and features total prize money of US$2 million. The competition is open for projects in architecture, building and civil engineering, landscape and urban design, materials, products, and construction technologies that contribute to the five target issues for sustainable construction. The Next Generation award will be issued to a young person, aged 18-30, who has visionary projects and bold ideas.

Events

INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme
November 17 - 22 & December 1 - 6, 2013
Fontainebleau, France & Singapore
The flagship six-day INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme combines the deep academic knowledge of INSEAD’s faculty with practical application. Renowned speakers, live case studies, and analysis of the most current issues and trends in the field create a platform to examine the complex issues and challenges facing social entrepreneurs. Learn more. 

Lean for Social Good Summit
December 5, 2013 & January 23, 2014
New York, NY & San Francisco, CA, USA      
The Lean for Social Good Summits bring together people and organizations using “Lean” principles in their organizations, as well as the best minds from the social good ecosystem: entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, non-profits, social enterprises, foundations, philanthropists, and investors. Summits will be held in New York City on December 5, 2013 and San Francisco on January 23, 2014.

Unite for Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference
April 12–13, 2014
New Haven, CT, USA
The Global Health & Innovation Conference (GHIC) is the world's leading and largest global health conference as well as the largest social entrepreneurship conference, with 2,200 professionals and students from all 50 states and more than 55 countries. This must-attend, thought-leading conference convenes leaders, changemakers, and participants from all sectors of global health, international development, and social entrepreneurship. Register by November 13 for the lowest rates. Unite for Sight was founded by YouthActionNet alumna Jennifer Staple-Clark. 

"Like" YouthActionNet on Facebook to stay up-to-date on can't-miss opportunities and free resources for young leaders!