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Join the Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI) Fellowship Programme 2008.

Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is pleased to announce a call for proposals to the YSEI Asia Fellowship Programme 2008.

What is the YSEI Fellowship Programme?

The Youth Social Enterprise Initiative (YSEI) is a high-engagement social venture programme for emerging young social entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Through its Fellowship Programme, YSEI provides young social entrepreneurs with support in four key areas: Financing: Up to USD 15,000; Knowledge: Essential development knowledge and tools on social entrepreneurship; Mentorship: Technical consulting through mentorship; and, Networks: Access to diverse networks.

This present call applies to emerging young social entrepreneurs based in developing countries in Asia region only.

Opportunities for young entrepreneurs based in other regions will be presented at a later stage.

Twenty young social entrepreneurs will be short listed through a competitive selection process to join the programme.

These 20 finalists will be invited to attend the upcoming YSEI Capacity Building workshop scheduled for May 2008.

The purpose of the Capacity Building Workshop is to provide capacity building support to participating finalists. This would entail refining the workshop finalists business plans, conducting further due diligence and nurturing a network of young social entrepreneurs and mentors.

YSEI aims to invest in young visionaries who have big ideas and who need crucial startup support to turn their ideas into action and in particular, we look for:

Ventures are led by youth from developing countries aged between 20 to 35 years;

Innovative social ventures with blended values (creation economic, social and/or environmental value components;

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are recognised as an integral part of the venture/solution-provided; and,

Ventures that are specifically designed to solve social or environmental problems

How to apply? Please apply online here or visit the GKP website before March 24, 2008.

Applications will be judged according to the YSEI Programme criteria. Results are expected to be announced by April 7, 2008.

Source: GKP