“Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract – sustainable development – and turn it into a reality for all the world’s people.“ (Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the UN)

As AIESEC in Austria and emersense, we particularly believe in the dreams, intentions and potential of youth to take on this challenge and shape a sustainable future. It is for this reason, that we will continue our partnership and again jointly host “Solution” – a unique learning platform to foster clarity, confidence, capability and courage in young people’s pursuit of driving positive change in society.

First hosted in 2006, the annual four day conferences since then have engaged around 200 selected participants and well over 40 reputable guests and partners from across the world for inspiring and triggering experiences upon their ambitions and ideas to create a sustainable future.

This year’s “Solution” will take place from 14 to 17 May 2009 in Vienna. The conference will be open for 80 selected delegates from Austria and abroad. Applications are starting on 15 March 2009. More

In September 2007, we founded emersense and quickly set off to enact our first ideas and initiatives that would nurture intent, grow aspirations and unfold potential for contribution. A glimpse back at this first year of existence shows the following highlights:

• We designed several innovative learning activities around sustainability. “Solution” connected 80 participants from across the world as well as about 20 reputable partners and guests in an internationally acclaimed four day conference upon leadership for sustainability… “The Human Element of Sustainability” provided space and opportunity to conceptualize new initiatives and solutions together with EBBF and Arthur L. Dahl (e.g. co-creator of the World Summit on Sustainable Development)…

• We created space and opportunities for social entrepreneurs from across Europe. With “Summer Retreat 08” we brought together 30 young international social entrepreneurs in a unique setting amidst Vienna and offered the space to shape new ideas upon the valuable connections and inspiration at hand…

• We were invited to share our perspectives and ideas in diverse forums. We were selected to present emersense in the “Marketplace for Ideas” and actively engage in the “Two Wings Award” ceremony for Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus within the “Vision Summit 2008” in Berlin… We shared our ideas on enabling social entrepreneurship with Der Standard, spoke on panels hosted by icon-s and Die Presse, were guest speakers and leadership coaches at national and international conferences by AIESEC…

• We built valuable partnerships for future growth and evolution of emersense. Out of several hundred requests we were selected to expand the international The Hub network in 2009… We initiated the collaboration with an advisory board comprising thought leaders, pioneers and entrepreneurs from diverse sectors… We engaged friends, enablers and supporters of emersense to bring in various perspectives and ideas into the evolution of the organization…

Last year we have started a journey. Since then we have intensified and accelerated the ride – and are now bringing emersense from a voluntary-driven association to an established social enterprise that serves as an enabling space for the value creators of today. We are looking forward to sharing this journey with you.