By Ekene Odigwe
Igbo people as an ethnic group has “Igwebuike, k’anyi Dozie Obodo Anyi” philosophy. It is a model that translates to “Together we can achieve more, so let’s rebuild our land”. Kenyans have Ubuntu way of life and it simply translates “I am because we are. The Ubuntu Philosophy explores Africans’ interconnectivity, Kindred and oneness. These existing systems are the exact thing the sustainable development goal is about. How we can live together in harmony with ourselves and our environment. There are Pan-African passion and spirit which resonates within the Kilimanjaro declaration that among other things Africa is a rich continent whose wealth belongs to all the People and not to the narrowed political and economic elites therefore there’s need to fight for economic development that embraces social inclusion and environmental care. Now, imagine what will be the results if young people from the nooks and crannies of Africa and the world who have been living this ideology subconsciously is presented with a beautifully crafted event that will not only open up their startups and help them network but present them with a chance to pitch their very own business projects at a global event, with the winner receiving Youth Time’s Idea Grant to realize their idea!
The event that is partially funded will take place in Paris, France from December 2nd -6th and will gather together more than 100 participants, experts and trainers from all over the world with the aim of discussing ideas and solutions to some of the most prevalent youth issues. The topic of the annual event is Worldwide Impact Investment: the Role of Entrepreneurs.
We need to realize that with the world facing a plethora of social and environmental challenges; the practice of impact investing has become something of a trend in the past decade. In fact, such investments are now beginning to question the archaic notion that global issues can be tackled only through philanthropic contributions, with market investments focusing exclusively on monetary gain. This new emerging form of investment comes with a promise to bring out the best of the nonprofit and for-profit systems, combining them to yield positive social and environmental impact in addition to tidy financial returns. It appears to be a win-win formula and as the call for addressing global problems and reaching sustainable development goals amplifies, so do the opportunities for both investors and innovators.
This consciousness will be repositioning the people to unite and organize to gain support from investors and access funds, then lobby for change in policy making process and still be co-owners of their contents. This event will help Entrepreneurs work out sustainable basic needs and how the services can be delivered. Set in the cosmopolitan city of Paris, France, the Youth Global Forum is composed not only to equip young business people with the necessary tools to thrive in the realms of impact investment, but also to foster leadership, human values and a strong sense of social responsibility. Through a harmonious combination of educational programs and cultural exchange activities, participants will leave the event feeling empowered and inspired to generate positive change within their communities. A series of informative keynotes, masterclasses, case studies and highly-interactive workshops conducted by esteemed experts will help attendees to gain insight into the complex world of impact investing and learn about the opportunities which could allow them to realize their maximum potential.
So, if you are a young person age 20-35 from anywhere in the world, Master’s/PhD student who is a social entrepreneur, young professional, working at/with startup incubators and/or accelerators and Fluent in English (reading, writing, speaking).
Then you can either apply as a project presenter or a basic participant using this http://www.youthglobalforum.org/
Deadline to apply is September 30th and follow the discussion online #youthglobalforum18
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