Global Youth Connect

"With the help of a planning grant from the Dart Foundation, a steering committee of 15 young people from 10 different countries, including the former Yugoslavia, Guatemala, Cambodia, Nigeria, and the United States -- spent two years building the organization's foundations.

"In August 1999, Global Youth Connect began operating as a fully incorporated 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since then, we have developed and implemented programs that are supporting and inspiring the passions and lives of youth and helping to create change on a wide variety of human rights and social justice issues around the world."

Board
Accessed May 2010:


 * Tamsen Bhachech - Attorney, TS Touchstone, PLLC, Seattle, WA
 * Jen Gherardi - Director of Nonprofit Partnerships, WellGood LLC, New York, NY
 * Elizabeth Lee - Program Associate, World Council of Churches, New York, NY
 * Cynthia Steele - Executive Vice President, EMPower Foundation, New York, NY
 * Joel Tolman - Director of Development and Community Engagement, Common Ground, New Haven, CT

Founders
Accessed May 2010:

"Global Youth Connect would also like to extend a special thank you to those who have contributed to its development over the years. Special thanks are in order to the Dart Foundation for the planning grant which enabled us to get started; Frank Ochberg who spurred us into action; the entire Board of the Friends of Raoul Wallenberg Foundation; Wilton Dillon and Mary Lynne Elroy for producing the Bergendal conference; Ervin Staub for the passion of his ideas and concerns; Camp Rising Sun; our funders; and all the members of the GYC Steering Committee, Board of Directors and the youth leaders who have participated in our programs - they've given their best thinking, extraordinary hearts and time in the hopes of making this dream a reality.

Founding Steering Committee Members


 * Hafsat Abiola, Tamsen Bhachech, Tina Choi, Arn Chorn Pond, Martin Dunn, Shamir Khan, Eva Morales, Genevieve Sangudi, Nanda Shewmangal, Sierra Stoneman-Bell, Judith Thompson, Joel Tolman, Joris Van Etten, Hameed Williams, Jonah Wittkamper

Partners
Accessed May 2010:


 * BOSNIA: Center for Peacebuilding
 * CAMBODIA: Youth for Peace
 * CAMBODIA: Youth Resource Development Program
 * EL SALVADOR: Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad
 * GUATEMALA: Organizacion Chico Mendez
 * JORDAN: Community Development Center in Sweileh
 * JORDAN: Jordan Red Crescent
 * NEPAL: Backward Society Education
 * RWANDA: Amani Africa
 * VENEZUELA: Catedra de la Paz y Derechos Humanos
 * VENEZUELA: Tiuna el Fuerte

Staff
Accessed May 2010:


 * Bosnia Program Director - Mirsad "Miki" Jacevic
 * Latin America Program Directors - Adrián Boutereira and Emma Kreyche
 * Middle East Program Director - Marieke van Woerkom
 * Rwanda Program Director - Jesse Hawkes
 * GYC Interim Executive Director - Jesse Hawkes

Special Project Assistants (2007-2008)
 * Rick Bennet (Bosnia)
 * Marie Berry (Rwanda)
 * John Connelly (Rwanda)
 * Christen Dobson (El Salvador)
 * Laura Heaton (Rwanda)
 * Meredith McCormac (Bosnia)
 * Naomi Sully (Rwanda)
 * Matt Verrilli (Venezuela)
 * Edward Warner (Guatemala)
 * Rattana Yeang (Cambodia)

Supporters
Accessed May 2010:


 * Beloit College
 * Cleveland Nephrology Fund
 * Community Foundation of California
 * Dart Foundation
 * Dharma Investment Group
 * Geraldine Dodge Foundation
 * Dyson Foundation
 * Eva and Lucius Eastman Foundation
 * Family Services of New York
 * Funding Exchange
 * Google
 * Grandis Family Foundation
 * Haverford College
 * Henderson-Wessendorf Foundation
 * Holton Foundation
 * Roy A. Hunt Foundation
 * Sherry and Stewart Kahn Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund
 * Cavin Leeman Foundation
 * Lifebridge Foundation
 * Microsoft Foundation
 * Mount St. Mary's University
 * Orphan Foundation of America
 * Reebok Human Rights Foundation
 * Sony Wonder Technology Lab
 * Temple University
 * Tides Foundation
 * Third Millennium Foundation
 * United States Institute of Peace
 * University of Dayton

Contact
URL: http://www.globalyouthconnect.org

Related Sourcewatch

 * Institute for Global Leadership
 * Julia Dowling
 * Elizabeth Dearborn Davis