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About IYPF

Strategy

The objects of the Foundation outlined in its constitution are:

• To promote and encourage the work done by young professionals in effecting positive global change.
• To facilitate the implementation of projects developed by members to address the issues of concern in the global community, which are consistent with the objects of the company, including the raising of funds where necessary.
• To further the networks formed during the International Young Professionals Summit 2001 and provide an ongoing platform for organisation and convening of future events and Summits and projects.
• To promote recognition of, mobilise and enhance the capacity of Young Professionals internationally to provide leadership and take action on global issues
• To undertake research and advocacy in regards to issues identified by members as vital to the creation of a preferred global future.

To achieve its vision, the IYPF's mission has it working with existing young professional social entrepreneurs and change agents, as well as reaching out to educate, inform and inspire others to use their power, privilege, skills and abilities to create a better world for current and future generations.

Over the last five years, the Foundation has worked to utilise and promote the resources, skills and knowledge that young professionals - and in particular its members - bring to the sustainability arena, primarily through engaging young professionals to generate and implement projects and events that seek to bring about positive social change in the areas of human rights, poverty eradication, environmental protection and repair and social capital and connectedness.

You can read more about this by checking out our annual reports as well as the Powerpoint we put together for our 4th birthday. These are all available from our Downloads page.

Implementation

The IYPF works to achieve a better world for current and future generations in three key ways:

(1) Providing opportunities for young professionals that support personal and professional development and the generation of ideas for creating a better world

• Educating and raising awareness amongst young professionals on international development issues through monthly newsletters; regional e-mail communities; online communities for topics such as fresh water, globalisation, poverty eradication, and information and communication technologies; international conferences; delegations to major international and regional events; presentations to young professionals forums

  Example 1: Through the IYPF and its African regional online community, the views of African young professionals on the International Commission for Africa (ICA), international aid and development efforts directed at Africa, and the aid and investment agenda for sustainable development of the African continent are being submitted to Tony Blair and the ICA.

  Example 2: Following on from the IYPS 2001, the IYPF convened IYPS 2004 in late November to discuss how young professionals can assist with achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the areas of sustainable livelihoods and science and technology.

• Advocating the role of young professionals in international development in key decision making and discussion forums

  Example 1: In March 2002, the IYPF sent a delegation of young professionals to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to promote the role young professionals can and are playing in the achievement of a more just, peaceful and sustainable Commonwealth.

  Example 2: The IYPF sent a delegation of young professionals to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. In addition to advocating for the role young professionals must play in creating a sustainable future for all, the IYPF co-hosted (with the Youth Employment Summit) a side event on the importance of social and eco entrepreneurship to creating sustainable livelihoods and achieving sustainable development. The efforts of young social and eco entrepreneurs were highlighted and their support and investment needs discussed.

• Establishing ongoing virtual forums for young professionals to air their ideas on international and regional development issues and seek further learning and partners to implement ideas

  Example 1: The IYPF's Globalisation online forum and virtual community has been a space for many young professionals to discuss issues relating to global trade, especially critiquing the Doha round of the WTO and the Cancun meetings in 2003.

  Example 2: African young professionals have used the African regional online forum to promote their local social change initiatives and find other young professionals in their area to collaborate.

(2) Implementing activities and initiatives that both create a better world in their own right and become tools for IYPF members to facilitate positive change in their own communities

Example 1: The Blueprint Project was initiated in 2003 in Australia to help foster a more entrepreneurial culture in Australian young people and give them skills and motivation to turn their own ideas - including those for social and environmental change - in to reality. The IYPF is now working with its partner, The Frank Team, to adapt and package this project, including support services, so it can be used by IYPF members around the world in their communities to encourage and stimulate youth entrepreneurship, create sustainable livelihoods and help eradicate poverty.

Example 2: The IYPF's Youth and Sustainable Consumption leadership project.

(3) Supporting young professionals to implement their world-changing ideas

The IYPF has developed a package of services to assist young professionals in turning their ideas to effect positive change in to effective short-term projects or long-term businesses or organisations

The package includes coaching on developing the idea in to a concrete proposal and plan, linking the project leaders to a peer support network, sourcing project mentors and interns, help with writing funding applications and locating appropriate investors, exposure and promotion of the project through IYPF networks, and connecting the project and its leaders to IYPF partners where relevant. For more information, see here.

You can read more about the IYPF here