CAIRO: On Tuesday, Ashoka Arab World launched a new innovation network for young professionals in an effort to bolster the younger generation of Arabs in their pursuit of excellence, the organization said in a press statement. The Ashoka Innovation Network (AIN) is the first such forum of its kind in the region designed to bring young professionals interested in social entrepreneurship together in order to network, “meet like-minded individuals from different sectors” and become educated on trends and other initiatives in social entrepreneurship. Emily Grunewald, a co-founder of AIN, told Bikya Masr that the younger generation is the most important in the region. “The overwhelming population in the Middle East is under 30, and many young people are eager to give back to their native countries, but do not know how,” she said. With a lack of overall job opportunities plaguing the region, the AIN hopes to be able to reach out to young leaders to help buttress young talent for the next generation of Arab businesspeople. “AIN is our platform for young people, and Ashoka will connect them with Fellows, as well as provide opportunities to meet people who are as passionate about giving back as they are,” Grunewald continued. “Through AIN's formal and informal network sessions, we hope that professional opportunities arise for those in need as well. Ultimately, AIN hopes to create a new generation of young social entrepreneurs, who understand the importance of bridging the corporate and social sectors to affect social change,” she added. At the first event on Tuesday, the theme “bridging the gap” was a symbol of what is to come. Ashoka Fellow Raghda el-Ebrashi related her story of how she is currently creating employment opportunities for “marginalized youth through a market-based sustainable model.” According to the Ashoka statement, el-Ebrashi is catering to “business sector needs and market needs thus bridging the gap between the social sector and the corporate sector and professionalizing the citizen sector. Her workforce is comprised of university students from the student clubs affiliated with Alashanek Ya Balady (AYB), her CSO.” The goal is to create opportunities for the next generation of Arabs who have long been frustrated by high unemployment rates and an overall lack of positions available. BM
