Skoll Scholar 2009/10
Shawn Smith is co-founder and President of Global Agents for Change (www.globalafc.org),a social change incubator that develops creative ways for young people to explore issues and take action, while raising funds and awareness for projects addressing global inequity. The organization’s rapidly growing Opportunity Fund acts as an accelerator for established microfinance and education initiatives, removing financial and technical barriers to help global community building projects broaden their reach and achieve sustainability. Global AFC has been recognized extensively by media, and identified by the United Nations and Canadian Government for its entrepreneurial approach and ability to create immediate impact with minimal resources.
Shawn is also co-founder of Education Generation (www.educationgeneration.org), an online community providing scholarships to developing world students, $20 at a time. This platform connects donors and students around the world, supporting young leaders that can help pull their communities out of poverty. Launching quietly in fall of 2008, it has funded 109 scholarships and raised over $25,000 in this pilot phase (current to May 2009).
When time permits, Shawn also acts as a strategic and communications consultant for private and social sector organizations in Vancouver, and has spoken to thousands of youth and adults on issues including global citizenship, leadership, and the power to impact our world. He has previous experience in banking and finance and has also worked and traveled extensively in Europe, China, and South America, speaking Spanish and Mandarin in addition to English. Shawn holds a Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University and resides in Vancouver where he spends his spare time studying Mandarin and planning the next great adventure.