Agency Details:

Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people aged 12-20 to start social ventures, and is building a powerful network of young social entrepreneurs across the globe.

Description:
Youth Venture was launched with the vision of changing society such that everyone would have the freedom and societal support to take initiative and address social needs. An essential element of this vision is to enable young people to learn early on in life that they can lead social change. It is clear that any young person who has an idea for improving his or her community, leads a team, launches a venture and contributes something lasting will emerge transformed from such an experience. Young “venturers” will know that they are capable of leading and creating change, and it is likely that they will take initiative again and again over a lifetime.

Young people are taken through a Dream It. Do It. workshop to help them develop a venture idea, complete an Action Plan regarding the idea they came up with, present their idea to a Selection panel and then are eligible for up to $1,000 in seed money for their venture. Youth Venture also facilitates the pairing of Allies (non-controlling adult mentors) with teams and provides consistent fellowship support as they go about enacting change in their community.

History:
Youth Venture was founded in 1996 by Bill Drayton as an offshoot of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. Currently operating in 14 countries, Youth Venture has supported over 2,000 venture teams comprised of over 40,000 young people.

Youth Venture Seattle has been operating as a local and regional office since late in 2007, and is constantly expanding its services and impacts on the local community.

Contact person: Kathryn Daly, Volunteer Coordinator, (email)

Address:

853 Hiawatha Place S Seattle, WA 98144 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 7, 9, or 42, .1 miles (5 minutes) minute walk