A social-change initiative captures "Changemaker Challenge" top prize. for 2011-'12.

Students' Response to Human Trafficking Earns 'Best Overall Venture' in NYU Reynolds Challenge

A social-change initiative developed by a team of New York University undergraduate students to help combat human trafficking has been selected as Best Overall Venture in the 2011-’12 “Changemaker Challenge” sponsored by the NYU Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship.

The student team’s prize includes an award of $7,800 and technical assistance to launch its venture, Youth Take Charge. Members of the team include: Lauren Kalogridis (NYU Silver School of Social Work); Cordelia Brady (Silver); Danielle Eagan (Silver); Rebecca Park (NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study); Sachiko Pettit (NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development), Bailey Theado (Gallatin), and Sasha Weinert (NYU Liberal Studies Program).

Youth Take Charge seeks to fight human trafficking by providing curricular materials and leadership training to teens in New York City high schools. Subsequently, the teens will establish self-led anti-trafficking clubs within their schools, thus empowering the next generation to realize a world without slavery.

In announcing the latest Best Overall Venture award, the NYU Reynolds Program cited three other undergraduate teams for exceptional work – Farm to Live; the Organization for the Promotion of Pediatric Strength; and Under 21. These ventures are recipients of Changemaker Challenge seed grants to further their projects. A description of all the finalists for the Best Overall Venture award can be read here.

Each year, the Changemaker Challenge (CmC) invites all NYU undergraduate students who want to change the world to compete for one of ten $1,000 maximum seed grants and a Grand Prize of up to $10,000.

The Changemaker Challenge will resume in the 2012-13 academic year and is open to undergraduate teams of two or more students led by a New York University student. Venturesdeveloped by student teams can be any student-created, student-led organization, program or business that benefits the community and/or has a measurable, positive, social impact. For profit, non-profit and hybrid ventures are eligible. Ventures must be new initiatives not already in existence, or a major new initiative of an existing organization (ventures that have received funding from NYU Reynolds and/or Youth Venture in the past are not eligible).Ventures must be sustainable with clear and attainable goals. For details, visit here.

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