Manpreet Darroch, the founder of the Tune into Traffic Campaign which is innovating road safety amongst young people in the United Kingdom was among 20 outstanding young social entrepreneurs selected as 2010 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.
Manpreet who is also YOURS’ Communications Officer was recognized at an awards ceremony held at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC on October 6. The awards were presented by Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, Finnish Ambassador to the U.S. Pekka Lintu, and Kirsi Sormunen, Vice President of Sustainability at Nokia.
“YouthActionNet® was created in the belief that an emerging movement of young change-makers has the power to deliver transformative innovations,” said William S. Reese, President and CEO of IYF, which supports programs that help youth obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, and improve their communities. “With each class of Fellows, our vision is reaffirmed. From employing low-income youth in Ghana to build bicycles out of bamboo to enabling individuals with disabilities to express their creativity using robotic devices, the 2010 Fellows offer solutions to a range of pressing needs.”
Manpreet says, ‘This is a great opportunity to expand the work of Tune into Traffic in the UK at a time of significant momentum in terms of road safety. The United Nations have just passed a resolution called for a Decade of Action for Road Safety and this fellowship will play an important role in realizing Tune into Traffic’s role in the Action’. Founded in 2008, Tune into Traffic has become a leading voice in the UK on youth road safety issues. The campaign reached an international audience after shooting a documentary with Channel 4 and since, has developed a strong media campaign and online presence. Tune into Traffic is also a key partner of YOURS: Youth for Road Safety and recently completed a successful global collaboration with YOURS called the ‘World Crossing Campaign’.
To date, YouthActionNet® has honored 180 young leaders from 59 countries. Fellows participate in a weeklong retreat held in Washington, D.C. and benefit from leadership development, skill-building, networking, and advocacy opportunities. Final selection of the 2010 YouthActionNet® Global Fellows was made by a distinguished panel of experts representing the private, nonprofit, and public sectors – along with the 2009 Class of Fellows.
To learn more about YouthActionNet® and this year’s Fellows, please visit: www.youthactionnet.org.