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 20 social entrepreneurs from 16 countries selected as 2012 Laureate GlobalFellows in recognition of their significant impact in local communities on fourcontinentsBALTIMORE, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty social entrepreneurs from 16different countries were named the 2012 Laureate Global Fellows today at aconferring ceremony on the campus of Istanbul Bilgi University for their impacton local communities on four continents. Capping off a weeklong trainingretreat, the 20 fellows were recognized for their achievements in socialinclusion, environmental awareness, economic empowerment, education and civilengagement. Eight of this year's Global Fellows had previously been acknowledgedby Laureate-based national YouthActionNet programs. Of the eight, two havestarted teaching at Laureate institutions since becoming fellows, one willenroll as a master's student this fall and one is currently studying at IstanbulBilgi University, an institution acknowledged for encouraging innovative andprogressive thought.  The Global Fellows program was created in 2001 by the International YouthFoundation (IYF) as part of its YouthActionNet program, with the Sylvan/LaureateFoundation becoming the lead sponsor in 2011. Each year, 20 individuals, ages18-29, are chosen from countries around the world for founding or co-foundingsocial enterprise programs that have been in operation for a year or more. Bothstudents and private citizens apply and are selected by a panel of expertsrepresenting the public, private and nonprofit sectors as well as the previousyear's fellows. To date, 220 initiatives have been recognized and more than220,000 people have benefitted."Istanbul Bilgi University provides the ideal backdrop for such an event," saidIYF President and CEO  William S. Reese. "Such a university setting encouragescollaboration among our impressive fellows and students, fostering new ideasthat may have otherwise not come to fruition. Laureate has been a catalyst forthis program, not only by helping to expand and sustain the Global Fellows butalso by providing a setting conducive to this weeklong  retreat."Among the Laureate Global Fellows who have undertaken projects with significantlocal community impact is Gokden Ipek Yosunlu, a 21-year-old woman from IstanbulBilgi University who started My Mother's Rug. The My Mother's Rug programempowers low-income, rural women to make rugs out of recycled fabric andconnects them with urban markets, providing them with economic independence andincome to support their families. Other fellows have utilized the Internet toconnect and mobilize people, founded local organizations that provide educationto rural communities, promoted the use of bicycles as a way to better bothpeople and the planet and engaged thousands of people to help save the Amazon.  "Unlike many others, these bold young leaders recognized the problems facingtheir communities, challenged these accepted norms and provided pragmatic,successful solutions," said  Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and CEO of LaureateEducation, Inc. "As Laureate continually strives to be here for good, we areproud to support the YouthActionNet Global Fellows program, which equips theseyoung pioneers of social change with the tools they need to sustain and scaletheir initiatives. Through our commitment to the Laureate Global Fellowsprogram, we are enabling them to have a far greater impact on society and futuregenerations."  During their week in  Turkey, the Laureate Global Fellows received intensivetraining on skills relevant to their work, such as fundraising, team-buildingand program sustainability. They also met and shared their knowledge andexperiences with hundreds of Bilgi students through a town hall forum andseparate classroom visits.  About  Laureate International UniversitiesLaureate International Universities  is a trusted global leader in providingaccess to high-quality, innovative institutions of higher education. The Laureate International Universities  network includes more than 60 accreditedcampus-based and online universities. Our more than 740,000 students are part ofan academic community that spans 29 countries throughout  North America,  LatinAmerica,  Europe,  North Africa,  Asia  and the  Middle East. Laureateuniversities offer hundreds of undergraduate, master's and doctoral degreeprograms in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design,education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, informationtechnology, law and medicine. President  William J. Clinton, 42nd president of the United States, serves as the Honorary Chancellor of the  LaureateInternational Universities  network, a role in which he offers advice on socialresponsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education. Formore information, visit  
  www.laureate.net.
    SOURCE  Laureate Education, Inc.Matthew Yale, +1-410-843-6506, matthew.yale@laureate.net