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About International Youth Foundation

International Youth Foundation International Youth Foundation WHO WE ARE Can young leaders with a passion for making a difference, proven solutions, and an infectious sense of possibility change the world? Yes! And they are doing so every day. An initiative of the International Youth Foundation (IYF), YouthActionNet pursues a bold mission: to strengthen and expand the impact of youth-led social ventures around the globe. Over 14 years, we have created one of the world’s largest networks of young social entrepreneurs comprising more than 1200 young leaders in 90 countries. From using bicycles to empower low-income youth with job skills to leveraging the power of technology to prevent the spread of disease, YouthActionNet Fellows have pioneered innovative solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges. In 2014 alone, youth-led projects supported by our Fellows impacted more than 2.2 million lives. Identifying and Supporting Young Leaders To identify and support the efforts of outstanding young change-makers, YouthActionNet operates a global and local Fellowship programs. At the global level, 20 young founders/CEOs are selected annually as Laureate Global Fellows. Each benefits from advanced leadership training, coaching/mentoring, advocacy, funding, and networking opportunities. YouthActionNet maintains a network of national/regional youth leadership institutes that provide similar supports and services to emerging leaders, while developing the youth leadership sector in their respective countries. Strengthening the Youth Social Entrepreneurship Sector To truly maximize the impact of youth-led social change, we seek to foster a global environment where young people’s contributions are respected, valued, encouraged, and supported. Our institute partners actively promote the role of youth, with the goal of creating more beneficial investment and policy environments benefiting young change-makers. Through our university partnerships, we are engaging an emerging generation of youth in contributing to their communities. And through our online learning activities, we seek to equip even greater numbers of young people with the knowledge and skills they need to lead effective change. Through this comprehensive approach, YouthActionNet—in collaboration with a host of committed partners—is working to strengthen and expand today’s global movement of youth committed to creating positive change.
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