I was extremely fortunate to participate in this year’s Global Engagement Summit. The conference brought 60 students from nearly 40 countries to Northwestern University for a long weekend to take a critical and energizing look at their altruistic ambitions. Delegates were encouraged to discuss their ideas, learn techniques from some established non-profits, businesses, and NGO leaders and to leave the summit with a better understanding of how they plan to accomplish their goals.

Having been peripherally involved in GES (formerly the International Youth Volunteerism Summit) for the past three years, it is particularly interesting to see the new ways in which the Internet is being used to put projects into action. Before the summit was over, many of the delegates had organized themselves into an online alumni group so that, despite global geographic divide, they will be able to stay in close touch. Delegates, who are required to come to the conference with projects (at varying stages) in development, are anxious to figure out how to best make the Internet work for them in their overall efforts. This year it was difficult to run into someone who had not somehow integrated web-based techniques into the execution of their plans.

From Alec Ross from the One Economy Corporation sharing insight on his efforts to bridge the digital divide to Christine Arnold of Prevent Human Trafficking talking about taking aim at human slavery and exploitation, participants were given great opportunities to hear from ambitious and awe-inspiring professionals who are making something happen both on the web and on the ground.

-Filed in Ideas