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Champions of Youth

At every Congress, a number of adults are honoured for their courageous support of youth issues and their leadership in securing the investment from government and the private sector required to meet the most urgent needs of young people around the world. The presentation of these awards is a key feature of each World Youth Congress, drawing in celebrities who lend it glamour and providing a focus for media appeal. The Award is also, as far as we can discover, unique in the world and has been greatly apprecieated by all those, listed below, who have won the award to date:

 
King Mohammed VI of Morocco

Mohammed VI was widely referred to as the ‘young King’ when he inherited the throne from his father. He has done much in his short reign to stimulate youth employment, youth engagement in social, cultural and sporting activities through building Maisons des Jeunes in every town and city neighbourhood in his kingdom.
   
   
 
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, UK

Prince Charles was honoured for his work in setting up the Prince’s Trust and its international arm,Youth Business International. In thirty years,the two organisations have enabled over half a million young people - most of them from highly disadvantaged backgrounds, to set up and sustain small businesses,largely through the skilful use of adult mentors.
   
   
 
James Wolfensohn,
former President of the World Bank


Throughout his life, Jim Wolfensohn has championed young people.When he came to the Bank, he continued creating a new Children and Young People’s Unit, and forcing the Bank’s Board to allow the 2007 edition of their World Development Report to focus on ‘Development and the Next Generation.’ This is the first major UN report to address the needs of youth, as opposed to children. A landmark event.
   
   
 
Rick Little,
Founder, Quest International and International Youth Foundation


Few individuals get to create one highly influential organisation in their lifetimes. Rick, to date, has created two - and he is working on a third. All seek to raise up young people who have drawn the short straw in life’s lottery - and to equip them with the skills, the mentorship and the unconditional love they need to make a success of their lives. Rick knows how this is done. He came from that background.
   
   
 
Enrique Iglesias,
former President, Inter-American Development Bank


The unanimous choice of the Latin American delegates to our Third Congress in Scotland, M. Iglesias championed investments in youth throughout his tenure at the IADB. The Youth Department were responsible for directing $5bn. in investment to youth needs in its first ten years, empowering and bringing hope to many millions of young people across the Americas.

To nominate a Champion click here.

 
   
   
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