Honoring contributions to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the Austrian Commission for UNESCO annually awards patronage to selected projects and initiatives – and today recognized our “Solution – Leadership for Sustainability” conferences for their “impact on youth, their innovative learning approach and the cultural diversity of their participants”.

While we are happy and grateful for the recognition, we especially thank the many facilitators, partners and participants of previous years who made this happen. More than that we are also very excited to soon launch an enriched program for 2010 – now under official UNESCO patronage…

“The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) seeks to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental problems of the 21st century.”

With 59 applications from more than 200 students, a community of more than 300 members and several activities and workshops over just a few weeks time – the Social Impact Award 2009 was successfully concluded today in a ceremony for the first three winners of the award:

• 1st place for Project-E: A successfully established vocational school with accredited curriculum to provide Ethiopian orphan girls a future-oriented education and break the chains of poverty and patriachal societal pressures.
• 2nd place for Hunza Dynamo: A new concept to strengthen the local economical and social structures of the Hunza Valley in Pakistan through the establishment of new trekking routes and sustained eco-tourism offers.
• 3rd place for Kunterbunt Foundation: A novel idea for “the touchable museum” that will allow blind people to experience the full beauty of art in an exhibition of 3D sculptures from famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa.

Project-E, Hunza Dynamo and Kunterbunt Foundation will each be awarded a 3 month unlimited membership of The Hub Vienna (opening fall 2009). Additionally, subsequent workshops and community activities for all applicants will soon be announced as further support for the many submitted ideas, concepts and prototypes.

Looking back: more impressions and information on the award are now available at www.socialimpactaward.at… Looking ahead: In 2010 emersense will continue the partnership with the Social Impact Award to again reward students with innovative ideas and new approaches to bringing about positive change in society. Stay tuned for more information.

“As new challenges are pressing and new solutions are emerging, particularly banking is holding significant potential to increase and sustain the created impact in society.”

Hosted by ERSTE Foundation, Erste Group and Česká Spořitelna in partnership with Ashoka and emersense, “Banking for Social Entrepreneurship” thus seeks to uncover this potential and connect banks and entrepreneurs on their social mission. Inviting drivers and enablers of positive change across CEE, a unique conference with a multitude of perspectives and a high level of engagement is created. Common intent at its core: Jointly pioneering new ways of enabling lasting positive impact by finding new opportunities to leverage banking and social entrepreneurship in CEE.

“Banking for Social Entrepreneurship” will take place from 19 to 20 June 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic for 120 selected guests and participants from CEE. A detailed program of the conference can be found here.

emersense learning design marks a new approach to learning to enable those with drive and commitment to a sustainable future by creating unique events with a high level of engagement and output. Read more about our learning design here and please contact us at  info@emersense.org for further information.