YouthActionNet: Helping Young Entrepreneurs Create Social Impact in Their Communities

Since 2006, Laureate has partnered with the International Youth Foundation (IYF)to support young social entrepreneurs who are creating positive change through the YouthActionNet (YAN) program. Today, 15 Laureate institutions in 10 countries have established national YAN institutes.

These institutes identify exceptional young social entrepreneurs, ages 18 to 29, who receive a 10-12 month fellowship, including training, mentoring, networking, funding, and advocacy opportunities. YAN institutes play a vital role in advocating for the role of youth-led social change in their respective countries—convening key stakeholders and advancing thought leadership related to the social entrepreneurship sector as a whole. Today, there are over 1,700 outstanding YAN alumni who have impacted more than 1.7 million people lives across the globe.

These changemakers are not only recognized by YAN for their commitment to positive social change, but many go on to receive accolades from other well respected organizations. Recently, four YAN alumni from Premios Jovenes Emprendedores Sociales at the Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM) – Álvaro de Francisco, Eider Etxebarria, Jesús Corbacho, and June Arrieta – were included in Forbes Spain 30 Under 30 list. The annual 30 Under 30 Summit recognizes young leaders and entrepreneurs who are contributing to the transformation of the global economy, with the potential to become the leaders of tomorrow in their fields.

This partnership is an example of the Laureate network expanding its impact beyond traditional students and into communities around the globe, and is an integral element of being Here for Good.