Global Entrepeneurship Week: We got the inside scoop!

Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 16 to 20, is an initiative to inspire young people around the world to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity.

For one week, millions of young people around the world join a growing movement of entrepreneurial people, to generate new ideas and to seek better ways of doing things.

DoSomething.org had the opportunity to interview, Thom Ruhe, Director or Entrepeneurship about the initiative.

DoSomething.org: What exactly is Global Entrepreneurship Week?

Thom Ruhe: Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a worldwide movement to elevate the dialogue and importance that entrepreneurship plays in expanding humanity.

DS: What inspired the movement?

TR: The movement was inspired by several factors, not the least of which the overwhelming research that identifies entrepreneurs as the driving force behind increasing employment, solving global problems, and creating genuine wealth.

DS: What are the goals of the initiative?

TR: Goals for the week, and hopefully well beyond, are to raise awareness about the important roles entrepreneurs play in driving our economy, emboldening a new generation of entrepreneurs to take the plunge, and energizing many more to support entrepreneurs in a host of ways.

DS: How does involvement benefit young people?

TR: Young people benefit from involvement by seeing new possibilities that entrepreneurship can offer them while connecting with mentors that can guide them along the journey.

DS: How can young people take action/get involved?

TR: Young people can get involved by participating in events, asking for help from others and researching sites and resources meant to inspire their creativity and spirit of invention.

DS: Who is participating?

TR: Thousands of people from around the world are participating.

DS: Can you give us examples of events being planned for the week?

TR: Like any successful movement, GEW has taken on a life of its own. The communities that have embraced it and run with the idea of what GEW is, and have created their own meaning and goals for the week. Visit www.unleashingideas.org to find hundreds of events around the world.

DS: How are Ten9Eight and Global Entrepreneurship Week affiliated?

TR: The movie is one of many inspirational events/activities meant to stimulate though provoking discussion and ideas meant to empower people.

DS: The film is being touted as the documentary of a competition that changed the lives and destinies of teens from low-income communities across the U.S. How so?

TR: It proved to themselves, their peers, and their communities that bright ideas and opportunities aren't limited by race, gender, income or education. Entrepreneurship is a great equalizer offering tremendous hope for anyone.

DS: Has this model replicated across the world? If so, where and how successful has it been? If no, are there any plans to do so? Where? Why there?

TR: GEW is already in 85+ countries with thousands of events. We can’t even track the effect it is having as it takes on a life of its own.

DS: Please share any additional information about GEW that would be helpful to the DoSomething.org audience.

TR: The Kauffman sponsored the documentary Ten9Eight which was released last week with screening parties throughout the country.

Also, check out the following links for events related to the week:

• Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
• GEW Malaysia
• GEW Jordan
• GEW Youth activity in Singapore
• All things GEW in Michigan and Sacramento

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton kicked things off for us. Check out the video.

Sir Richard Branson gave his take on it too!