Opening of the First Convocation of Youth Development Program for Innovation and Social Action

Buenos Aires, Argentina – Sept. 6, 2007 The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Microsoft Corporation and the Foundation for Sustainability, Education and Solidarity (SES) announced today that the first convocation of initiatives from youth organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean is open until October 5th , 2007.

The Youth Development Program for Innovation and Social Action or the Youth Fund is a program that has a fund of $1 million dollars in financial as well as technical support for non- profit youth organizations in the region. The objective of the program is to facilitate access to information technology and economic opportunities for young people from low income and socially excluded sectors of Latin America and the Caribbean, thus promoting their development as individuals as well as the development of their communities.

In this first convocation, the initiatives to be presented should be oriented toward business development and/or community development geared at strengthening the efforts of young people through training and education. They should also contain an innovative component with regard to the use of or access to information technology that directly contributes to the improvement of opportunities for young people.  Between $25,000 and $50,000 in non-refundable financing can be petitioned. 

“Broadening the access of the youth of Latin America and the Caribbean to new information technology is a priority of the Inter-American Development Bank,” said Luis Alberto Moreno, IDB president.

The Youth Development Program for Innovation and Social Action, the Youth Fund, will be administered by the SES Foundation (located in Argentina) for Latin America and the Caribbean in coordination with IDB YOUTH and the Technology Training Program for the Community-Unlimited Potential of Microsoft. Youth organizations interested in participating can obtain more information by visiting: www.fondodejuventud.org.

IDB YOUTH is a development and youth oriented program of the IDB that promotes the active participation and leadership of young people in the development of their region.

The Program for Community Training and Technology – Unlimited Potential - is increasing its efforts to reach marginalized communities through alliances with other institutions like the IDB that are committed to the participation of young people and in facilitating their economic opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Microsoft is committed to supporting adults and young people to use technology and receive training in order to promote positive changes in education, promote local innovation as well as provide jobs and opportunities to sustain a continuous cycle of social and economic growth for everyone,” said Rudolph Fucher, General Manager of Community Development for Microsoft in Latin America. “Through the Unlimited Potential Initiative, Microsoft is working with organizations like the IDB, the SES Foundation, governments, educators and the IT industry to give people access to transforming technologies.”

The SES Foundation (Sustainability, Education and Solidarity) is dedicated to the promotion and development of various strategies to include adolescents and young adults with limited opportunities. SES is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina with partners in the majority of Latin American and Caribbean countries. SES is the entity responsible for launching this initiative.

Microsoft was founded in 1975 (Nasdaq “MSFT” and is a world leader in software, services and solutions that help people and companies realize their full potential.