During the world's most innovative week, November 16-22, 2009, Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 will introduce millions of young people around the world to entrepreneurship and encourage them to think of innovation as a vehicle that can take them anywhere.
Like many great movements, Global Entrepreneurship Week started with an idea. The vision to inspire innovation in youth began with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Global Entrepreneurship Week was a combination and expansion of two successful initiatives—the debut of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA in 2007 and the inspiration behind it, Enterprise Week in the UK, which was kicked off in 2004 by now-Prime Minister Brown. Global Entrepreneurship Week quickly grew into a worldwide movement to unleash the ideas of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.
In 2008, its inaugural year, Global Entrepreneurship Week involved more than 3 million participants, 100 countries, 25,000 activities, and 8,800 partners. With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week encouraged youth to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, and to make their mark. Partners from more than 77 countries around the world participated, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Uganda. Organizations, ranging from large non-governmental to small community-based groups, held activities. The roster of participating countries and partner organizations included many countries with severe economic challenges, suggesting a worldwide understanding of the value of entrepreneurship. For highlights from the 2008 Global Entrepreneurship Week, including videos, reports, and research, see Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008.
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 promises to be even bigger. A growing coalition of organizations is actively planning the Week in more than 75 countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week will bring ideas to light and link them with enterprising, eager young minds.
There are no geographic or socioeconomic boundaries to Global Entrepreneurship Week. Anyone can participate:
- Universities and schools, civic and nonprofit organizations, largecorporations, micro businesses—become a partner
- Government, thought leaders, and influencers—support a partner
- Aspiring entrepreneurs—share your expertise and connect with the next generation of entrepreneurs
- High school and college students—participate and power the future
If you're interested, get involved today at the Global Entrepreneurship Week web site, www.unleashingideas.org.