AIESEC, the world's largest student organization, is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential so as to have a positive impact on society.
In addition to providing over 7,500 leadership positions and delivering over 350 conferences to our membership of over 32,000 students, AIESEC also runs an exchange program that enables over 4,450 students and recent graduates the opportunity to live and work in another country. AIESEC is celebrating in 2008, 60 years of activating leadership in young people.World AIDS Day: AIESEC invites global youth to Understand, Experience and Act
“Living with HIV” is a global initiative of Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with AIESEC, empowering young people across Africa and Asia to explore their role in facing the challenges of HIV and AIDS. A component of the banks broader programme to educate 1 million people worldwide by 2010, the initiative allows students and recent graduates have the opportunity to understand the issues through workshops, experience the reality first-hand in their communities and act to further spread education and awareness as HIV and AIDS ‘champions’.
Emma Kerubo, a 21 year old Kenyan student of Finance, has travelled to Nigeria as an HIV
and AIDS ‘champion’ and has returned to Kenya as a peer educator. Through the program,
Emma feels she has made an important contribution and developed the experience and
networks she will need to make a positive change.
“I left my comfort zone, my home country Kenya, to go to Nigeria a place where I did not know anyone before hand to create awareness on the HIV and AIDS issue. What motivated me to go was the fact that I was to meet AIESEC members in Nigeria who share the same values as I do… The fact that I was a young person who had come from another country to
voluntarily create awareness on HIV and AIDS to fellow young people had a major positive
impact on my mission”, says Emma.
From October 2007 to October 2008 this initiative between AIESEC and Standard Chartered Bank has reached 65,000 young people in 17 African and Asian countries. In of these countries multicultural teams of young people have been conducting education sessions, multiplying the effect of the valuable HIV Champions network established by Standard Chartered Bank. Vanessa Green, Group Sustainability Manager who runs ‘Living with HIV' globally at Standard Chartered Bank believes the program is a powerful contribution to building the generation of leaders to address the issues of HIV and AIDS.
"Through our "Living with HIV" program, we have developed a highly effective workplace HIV education model that has been rolled out to all our employees. We are freely sharing our HIV education tools for other organizations in order to educate one million people on HIV and AIDS by 2010 in order to reduce the numbers of new HIV infections. We are proud that AIESEC has teamed up with us to reach 300,000 young adults, an age-group significantly impacted by HIV, and who represent tomorrow's leaders", says Ms. Green.
Involving more than 65,000 students from over 411 secondary schools and a host of young interns from across the globe, the initiative is open to students and recent graduates interested developing themselves and others to in make a difference. Emma Kerubo feels this initiative has equipped her with new perspectives and a path to make change as a young person.
“I am a university student studying Business and my course of study is not directly in line with the issue of HIV and AIDS. This has not stopped me from contributing to the fight against HIV and AIDS and it will not stop me in future”, says Emma.
Sourcing Global Talent: AIESEC celebrates 5,000 international internships provided in 2008
AIESEC launches global online platform for its alumni
ROTTERDAM, November 8 th, 2008- For more than 800,000 alumni in over 100 countries, AIESEC represents a powerful network of change-makers. Launched in the year of AIESEC's 60 th anniversary, MyAIESEC.net is the virtual space for alumni to catch up with old friends, find new opportunities and plug in to AIESEC today.
Capturing the spirit of the AIESEC network, MyAIESEC.net is the global online platform connecting AIESEC members and alumni. Emil Ivanov, Global Alumni Relations Manager, describes the launch as an important step for the organisation;
"In 1948, AIESEC played a driving role in forgoing international co-operation in post-war Europe. In 2008, AIESEC is using Web 2.0 technology to enable our alumni to host conversations that matter today", says Emil.
MyAIESEC.net captures the energy of AIESEC's alumni base, comprising Heads of State, Business leaders and entrepreneurs of civil society. Akber Pandor, Alumus and Director of Learning and Development for KPMG Europe, sees AIESEC as an open opportunity to connect with an international network of change-makers.
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For the first time in 60 years, AIESEC is honored to congratulate an alumnus, and champion of the AIESEC vision of peace, for being awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari is a role model AIESEC alumni. His lifelong commitment to peace, participation and diversity reflects the best of 60 years of AIESEC history, enabling the leaders of positive change our world needs. On behalf of over 30,000 young people in more than 100 countries, I congratulate Martti Ahtisaari for his contribution to peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential” said Juan Cajiao, President of AIESEC International.
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SAO PAULO, August 5, 2008—Over 700 young people will gather in Brazil from the 21st-30th August for the International Congress of the world’s largest youth run organisation. AIESEC will be hosting the annual International Congress in Sao Paulo for the first time, recognising Brazil’s emergence as a front runner in sustainability.
Celebrating 60 years of developing leadership, the AIESEC International Congress will connect young people with some of the world’s most experienced and effective leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable future. The Congress is an opportunity for young people to challenge their preconceptions and options and become agents of positive change.
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BRUSSELS, June 18, 2008— Brussels will be transported in time as it hosts AIESEC’s 60th anniversary celebrations June 27 – 29, 2008 . Established in 1948 by seven European countries—including Belgium ,—AIESEC’s aim was to foster cultural understanding amongst nations, a similar dream to the would-be European Union.
Over 150 elite business leaders along with past and present AIESEC
members will gather for this event in Brussels, which was the home of AIESEC’s international
secretariat for many decades.
European Commission Vice President
for Enterprise and Industry, Gunter Verheugen will speak about the role of Europe
today at the opening of the event in the Crowne Plaza Brussels, on June 28, 2008.
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