On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, the Universidad Europea de Madrid hosted the International Youth Foundation’s board meeting and a panel session entitled “Youth-Led Social Innovation: A Powerful Force of Change.”

At this event, young social entrepreneurs from Laureate-based YouthActionNet™ programs, including Maritza Morales from Mexico, Simón Menéndez from Spain, and Cecília Mendes Barros from Brazil, along with UEM student, Vanessa Massimini, and Global YouthActionNet™ awardees Bernise Ang and Raghda el Ebrashi, discussed the challenges and opportunities they face as young agents of social change.

Together, the Sylvan/Laureate Foundation, the International Youth Foundation, and Laureate institutions in Mexico (Universidad del Valle de México), Brazil (Universidade Anhembi Morumbi), and Spain (the Universidad Europea de Madrid) operate national programs of IYF’s Global YouthActionNet™ initiative, www.youthactionnet.org, which recognizes young social entrepreneurs ages 18 - 29 for starting projects or non-profit organizations that respond to pressing social issues. 

Since the inception of the partnership in 2005, the Laureate-based YouthActionNet™ programs have provided recognition, cash awards, and training to more than 120 social entrepreneurs in Mexico, Brazil, and Spain.

In May 2010, Istanbul Bilgi University will launch the Turkish national institute of YouthActionNet™.