A BIG Project: 86 countries. One month. Your chance to make the world better.

Economic uncertainty. Uprisings around the world. Radical advancements in technology. Global collaboration at a new scale. People everywhere are sensing change.

But what are we changing to?  From now until September 20^th people from more than 86 countries are answering four questions exploring our visions for a better world.  A global renaissance of art and music will then be launched expressing where all of our visions connect. Join the effort. Have your say!

Move the world.  Go to www.abigproject.org.

IDEAS For Us

IDEAS Ghana attends the 4th African Youth & Governance Conference

On August 8th, 2012, African Youth & Governance Conference, a three-day conference dubbed “Partnership for Job Creation: A Wheel for Transformational Governance,” was attended by 250 delegates from 31 African countries and Australia to dialogue on issues relating to youth unemployment and sustainability.  The focus was to come up with workable models towards addressing such issues. Addressing the opening ceremony, Dr Anthony Cudjoe, Chief Executive Officer of Emerging Leaders Africa, an NGO, bemoaned the rate at which the youth, after graduating from various educational institutions crave for “prestigious” jobs even when there were none available.

AYG Conference attendees pose for the annual picture, representing over 31 African Countries and Australia.

Dr. Cudjoe challenged the youth to take advantage of opportunities available in their various countries and venture into entrepreneurship instead of solely depending on government for employment.

Mr Seth Oteng, Executive Director, Youth Bridge Foundation expressed his appreciation at the youth‘s commitment towards governance in Africa, as well as their desire to join Ghanaians to mourn the late President Mills.   He said the late President Mills had left a legacy that should be carried on, especially in the area of addressing issues of youth unemployment.   An African Youth Heritage Festival was held in climax of the conference in honour of the memory of the late President Mills at the National Theatre in Accra.

With a multi-sectoral Government of Ghana support through the Presidency, Ministries of Youth and Sports, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Parliament as well as UNFPA¸ UNECA (ICT Division), NEWMONT and strong media partnership, AYG-Conference has gained international recognition with heightened interest by the UN Agencies.

IDEAS Regional Director for Africa, Emmanuel Marfo, coordinated the conference and shared IDEAS focus areas with some delegate. Through our partner Global Alliance for Development Foundation (GADeF), the key action projects reached at the panel discussions and conclusions in the communiqué will be created into a long term relationship with IDEAS and the Youth Bridge Foundation’s African Youth and Governance Community.

IDEAS leaders plan during the AYG conference

The IDEAS Ghana team, namely  Miranda Quaino (Project Coordinator), Roberta Odei (Media Assistant) and Sa-ada Sadique (the National Chapters Coordinator) were present to share their initiatives and ideas for creating the future we want!

IDEAS For Us

Back to School for Movers & Shakers

Thousands of students in the IDEAS Movement, from over three dozen schools, colleges and universities around the world, are heading back to school this week. We at IDEAS want to wish you a safe, happy, healthy and productive start to your semester. May you all be the change you wish to see in the world!

Here is a look at the perfect sustainable school day to get you started this year. How many of you out there wish your first day back was like this?!

1) Pull up to Class with Eco-Class: No one will hear you arrive late for the first day because your Nissan LEAF is COMPLETELY Silent! This all-electric four passenger car is the coolest in affordable electric vehicle. The name LEAF stands for (Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family car). Definitely gets us charged up. Check out the All-Electric Owners Blog! 

2) Beat the Heat and Save Some Green: This summer is the hottest summer in recorded human history. So please be sure to stay hydrated in between classes with BPA-Free Water Bottles. While your classmates are spending hundreds a year to contribute to our dependency of fossil fuels by using one time use plastic bottles, you can make a mental map of water fountains and beat the heat and save a lot of time and money. Learn More

3) Charge up Those IDEAS: Nothing is worse than having your smart phone or computer die in the middle of an email or international phone call! Put the sun to work for you and keep off-the-grid with a Solar Backpack. Carry everything you need for class and charge up all your electronics while walking from class to class or while you enjoy eating lunch with other students outside. Learn More

4) Tie Up Your Loose Ends: Ever think about how much metal goes into making staples? Surprisingly, a lot. Make a statement and use a metal-free stapler this school year for all your reports and handouts. Metal-Free Staplers punch out a slip of paper and tie it around itself for a super strong hold.  Great way to make yourself stand out to a teacher from day one!

5) Throw an Eco Party in Your Room: College is about hard work, learning, studying and HAVING A LOT OF FUN! Throw a party in your dorm using only candle light or go the extra mile and swap out all your bulbs for Remote Controlled Color Changing LED Bulbs. These LED bulbs save big time on electricity and give you the change to set the mood from study mode to party mode with the press of a button. Save energy in style! Learn More

IDEAS becomes finalist for Sustainable Florida Awards!

In June 2012, IDEAS was nominated for 2 categories in the 2012 Sustainable Florida Best Practices awards, including a nomination for ‘Nonprofit‘ and ‘Leadership‘ categories!  This recognition is showing the collective efforts of chapters across the State of Florida who are truly providing youth and emerging professionals with an outlet to become change agents on their campus and develop and implement sustainability solutions!

On September 13th, IDEAS will be attending the final ceremony and awards dinner, in hopes of taking home the prize!  Stay tuned for the results!

IDEAS For Us

Innovations Think Tank goes Virtual using G+ Hangouts!

On Sunday, August 12th — in participation with the UN International Youth Day — leaders, thinkers and emerging entrepreneurs across Central Florida came together for the 1st-ever Virtual Innovations think Tank using G+ Hangouts!

Led by the think tank founder, Julian Belilty, 8 thinkers came together to discuss challenges facing our campuses in the areas of Energy, Water, Food, Waste and Ecology — what we call the 5 Pillars of Sustainability.  In the end, participants focused on Energy, and began to discuss alternative forms of transportation, developing a new idea and potential way to give ‘Car-Pooling‘ an incentive on campus.

Stay tuned for the next Virtual Innovations Think on Sunday, August 26th @ 1:00pm EST on G+ Hangouts!

IDEAS For Us

International Youth Day 2012 Connects Leaders Around the World

On August 12th, 2012, the United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-Moon opened the 2012 International Youth Day by saying:

Today’s generation of youth — the largest the world has ever known, and the vast majority of whom live in developing countries — has unprecedented potential to advance the well-being of the entire human family.  Yet too many young people, including those who are highly educated, suffer from low-wage, dead-end work and record levels of unemployment..

This year, the theme of International Youth Day 2012 was “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth” — a global call to action to develop and engage in partnerships with and for youth.
(UN Secretary-General Address)

In light of this theme, IDEAS decided to partner up with our affiliates in Nepal — YUWA — to host a Global Discussion G+ Hangout, bringing together 7 leaders in 5 different countries — including France, Pakistan, Malaysia, Nepal and the US — to discuss pressing challenges facing youth around the World, such as Education, Energy, Water, Food, Human Health and Gender Rights.

Check out the re-cap of the Global Discussions and please email IDEAS if you’re interested in the next Global Discussions coming next month!
(Email: Think@ideasforus.org)

IDEAS For Us