Global Youth Forum discusses social entrepreneurship practices

The American University in Dubai hosted on Sunday the Global Youth Forum, a two-day event organised and managed by Al Ahli Holding Group, to address social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Some 180 students and young professionals aged 19-32 are attending the event which will discuss social business case study, crowdfunding, the difference between philanthropy and social entrepreneurship, reasons for failures and successes and innovation.

Lina Hourani, Director of CSR Al Ahli Holding Group, said two best social entrepreneurship projects would be honoured with the first winner getting AED 20,000.

Dr. Jihad S. Nader, Provost / Chief Academic Officer, American University in Dubai, and Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum and SEED Group, also addressed the forum.

As the MENA region continues to endure socio-economic challenges in a rapidly changing environment, businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations are struggling to find long-term solutions to a myriad of social, economic, environmental, security and technological challenges, organisers say.

The conference will focus on social innovation as a mean to promote a social entrepreneurial mindset, to achieve social impact and to supply change rather than demand it. It will bring together social entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem actors, along with private sector and academic leaders in the social entrepreneurship field.

The conference will also be an opportunity to uncover the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, to foster learning of social entrepreneurship practices, and to promote an enabling policy environment for social enterprises.