Reese, Rags2Riches, and YouthActionNet
Reese Fernandez, Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Rags2Riches Inc. Honored as YouthActionNet® Global Fellow
Philippines – Reese Fernandez, EVP and the Co-Founder of Rags2Riches, Inc., an organization which creates beautiful designer bags out of scrap cloth and provides livelihood to women of Payatas, was among 20 outstanding young social entrepreneurs selected as 2008 YouthActionNet® Fellows. Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia, YouthActionNet® seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world.
“From harnessing the power of technology to combat drug counterfeiting to using bicycles as a potent rural development tool, this year’s YouthActionNet® Fellows are true social entrepreneurs – developing creative solutions to foster lasting social change,” said IYF President and CEO William S. Reese.
Founded in 2007, Rags2Riches, Inc. has assisted over 300 women from Payatas and recycled 150 tons of scrap cloth. The company also recently won the Social Enterprise Award from the University of San Francisco Business Plan competition, the largest gathering of CEOs and Presidents of Silicon Valley and Ivy League Universities from all over the world.
The 2008 Global YouthActionNet® Fellows will travel to Washington, D.C., USA in November to participate in a weeklong leadership retreat, to be recognized for their efforts at the Annual YouthActionNet® Global Awards Ceremony, and network with leading international organizations.
Since the Fellowship program was launched in January 2002, 140 young social entrepreneurs have been selected, with applications received from nearly 4,000 young people in over 60 countries. Fellows are chosen annually following a peer review process in which previous Fellows select the next round of winners.
To learn more about YouthActionNet® and this year’s Fellows, visit: http://www.youthactionnet.org.
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About Rags2Riches
Rags2Riches is a social business enterprise (corporation) that creates beautiful designer bags out of scrap recycled cloth and empowers women of Payatas to become productive and creative members of society. Rags2Riches, in partnership with the country’s premiere designer, Mr. Rajo Laurel, advocates for People (fair trade), Planet (revolutionary recycling), Profit (sustainability), and Positive Influence.
About YouthActionNet®
Launched in 2001, YouthActionNet® seeks to develop a new generation of socially conscious global citizens who create positive change in their communities, their countries, and the world. Through its Fellowship Programs, national institutes, dynamic website, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, YouthActionNet® offers young change makers ideas, resources, and connections to like minds around the world. To date, YouthActionNet® has launched national institutes in Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, with additional institutes planned for Australia, Chile, Haiti, and Israel in 2008-2009. For further information, visit: www.youthactionnet.org.
About the International Youth Foundation (IYF)
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil-society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more, visit: www.iyfnet.org.
