Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) launched the Global Young Social Entrepreneurs Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Global Competition will select 100 winners who will be sponsored to attend the up coming Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum. www.globalknowledge.org/ysef07.
The Forum is a key feature of the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference (GK3), a GKP Event on the Future on Emerging People, Emerging Markets, Emerging Technologies that will gather 2000 participants from 11-13 December 2007 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.
Many young people have an interest in contributing towards a better future, but job offers in the traditional development sector are limited. A social enterprise with its double or triple bottom-line allows them to both earn an income and realise their passion for positive social and/or environmental impact. Their social business model also addresses the challenge of financial sustainability that many traditional, grant-funded development projects face.
The 100 young social entrepreneurs sponsored to attend the Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum are selected through a fully web-based Competition that is open to all regions of the globe. Application details and jury evaluation results will be viewable to the public who will also be able to post comments.
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According to Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director of the GKP Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, The Global Young Social Entrepreneurs Competition will identify innovative young leaders below 30 that have set-up businesses with a social twist and a business model that leverages on information and communication technologies (ICT) such as internet, computer, mobile phone or software. We seek the assistance of the media to help us promote the Competition and reach the best young social innovators out there.
The Competition winners will be announced on 1 October 2007, after review by an independent jury.
Rinalia further noted that GKP believes in providing the avenues and platforms for these amazing individuals to further their cause. The Forum offers them knowledge, networking, mentorship and financing crucial things that most young social entrepreneurs need.
At the Forum, 10 of the winners will pitch their enterprises to experts to secure funding. All 100 winners will take part in a dedicated networking session; meet various funding organisations, mentors, experts and other stakeholders; be part of a crowd of innovative and motivated young people; mingle and network with the 2000 general GK3 participants and showcase their social businesses.
Todays Competition launch also unveiled the winning submission for the visual identity of the Forum communication materials. In-line with the Forums ambition to be an event shaped by youth for youth, the Forums visual look and feel was selected by an international youth panel among submissions by Malaysian design students. The winning design is by Ngau Ling Wei (Kyoko) of ALFA International College. One of the runners-up with equal votes also studies there, while the second runner-up is from PJ College of Art & Design.
We were thrilled by the interest received from local Malaysian design institutions to have their students participate in the visual identity competition for the Forum. The tight voting results show that several designs were of high quality and appealed to the international youth judges. It was a pleasure to work with the students and to see them execute their ideas on a global platform, added Anthony David, Coordinator for the Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum.
Themed Spearheading the Future, the Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum @ GK3 targets 250 participants. The 100 young social entrepreneurs from all around the globe will meet with a community of funding organisations, experts, mentors and other stakeholders and engage in two real-time pitching sessions and two innovative and interactive thematic sessions.
The Global Competition, the Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum and GK3 are organised by Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP).
GKP runs the Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI), a programme dedicated to young social entrepreneurs that offers support in the four key areas of knowledge, networking, mentorship and financing.
Contact person:
Anthony David
Coordinator, Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum @ GK3
anthony@gkps.org.my
About GKP:
Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is the worlds leading international multi-stakeholder network committed to harnessing the potential of knowledge, and information and communication technologies (ICT) for sustainable and equitable development.
GKP brings together public sector agencies, private sector companies, civil society organisations and international institutions to Share Knowledge and Build Partnerships that promote innovation and advancement in the areas of Knowledge for Development (K4D) and Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D).
GKP activities and programmes address development opportunities and challenges within four strategic themes Access to Knowledge, Education, Poverty Reduction and Resource Mobilisation.
Through GKP, organisations across sectors share their experience, ideas and solutions to unleash the potential of knowledge and ICT to improve lives, reduce poverty and empower people.
With over 100 members the GKP membership spans all continents. Working together, GKP members increase their organisational prominence to influence policy at a global level as well as to secure more opportunities for spreading the benefits of K4D and ICT4D initiatives.
GKP is governed by an elected Executive Committee and is supported by a Secretariat based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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