What People Are Saying

"ImagineNations is an inspired idea. It is based on the belief that not only do young adults in developing markets have much to gain by gaining greater access to capital, coaching and education but also that multilateral institutions, governments and the global marketplace itself has much to learn and benefit from the ideas, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of tomorrow's global leaders."

Sir David Bell
Chairman, Financial Times Group
London

"If the Millennium Development Goals to halve extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 and build a better world for all are to be achieved, it will require even more than a commitment from governments, business and international organizations. In the end, it will depend on millions of ordinary citizens claiming their own future, men and women working toward their achievement, united behind a common vision. In the developing world, where more than 50 percent of the population is under 25 years of age, it's clear that young people have a critical part to play in the fight against poverty. Young people not only represent the future, they are also a rich source of the kinds of innovative solutions needed to address some of the most pressing problems facing us today. The work of ImagineNations is a bold and creative example of what can be done to harness this, all too often, untapped potential."

Mark Malloch Brown
British Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the United Nations
Former Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
Former Administrator of the UNDP

"ImagineNations has an important role to play in its partnerships with others in the public and private sectors and civil society to help spread the benefits of entrepreneurship among young people more widely."

Maria Livanos Cattaui
International Crisis Group Board Member - Executive Committee
Former Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce

"The Seeing is Believing trip to Zambia was amazing. We were thrilled to participate. Nike Foundation invests in helping to empower the world's most disadvantaged girls so they can transform their lives, their families, communities and countries, and I've had the privilege to travel and work in many cultures - but rarely have I participated in such a powerful, well-organized, action-oriented and enlightening experience as this trip. We're thrilled to be partners with ImagineNations in changing the odds for girls and young people."

Maria Eitel
President, Nike Foundation

"Youth entrepreneurship needs to be central to worldwide development efforts and at the heart of a global campaign for growth and poverty reduction. From micro-entrepreneurs to successful small business owners, investing in young people's ideas generates jobs and creates a ripple effect for others to improve their communities and their own lives."

Alan H. Fleischmann
Managing Director, ImagineNationsT Group

"Employment is one of the most important issues facing young people in every region in the world. I am very pleased to partner with the ImagineNations Group to address this critical problem and to bring hope and opportunities to millions of young people. Helping our youth develop life skills, strong values, attitudes of self-discipline and moral courage is essential in assisting them in becoming productive adults, good global citizens and successful entrepreneurs."

Amr Khaled
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Right Start Foundation
Head, Programmes Development Department at ART (Arab Radio & Television)

"Over the next decade, more than one billion young people will enter the global labor market - the largest entry pool in history. Some experts predict, however, that based on current trends only about 300 million new jobs will be created during this same period. Furthermore, on average, about 70 percent of young people in developing countries are not in school past age 14. If they are not in school and there are few jobs in the formal economy, what are their options? Developing innovative new partnerships that provide young adults with access to financial services and products, including business coaching, savings, investments and loans will be absolutely essential to securing a more peaceful, prosperous and hopeful future."

Rick Little
President & CEO, ImagineNations® Group
Founder, International Youth Foundation

"Given today's fragile state of global security, we know there are real risks to inaction and short-term fixes to complex problems. Given the demographics of the next decades, it would be catastrophic to ignore the voices of young people or to accept that their lives should be without hope or economic opportunity. I applaud ImagineNations for demonstrating strong leadership in thinking about how best to provide economic opportunity to millions of young people who are currently marginalized or excluded from the formal and informal economy. We can only hope that the rest of us are wise enough and brave enough to listen."

Jean Francois Rischard
Former Vice President-Europe, The World Bank

"There is a growing understanding that solving the world's most serious problems will not be done by one single organization nor by one sector - public, private or non-profit - on its own. Much more can be achieved by drawing on the capabilities and resources of different sectors, in real partnership. ImagineNations is finding innovative ways to build such partnerships and engage millions of young adults in the process. It is playing a critically needed role in helping to ensure their voices and ideas are heard."

Mary Robinson
Executive Director, Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative
Member, The Elders
Former President of Ireland
Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights