Your Big Year Report

A WORLD MERIT INITIATIVE

Report Years 1 and 2

There's no greater thing you can do with your life than follow your passions in a way that serves the world and you Sir Richard Branson

Charles Batte, Uganda, celebrating his Your Big Year win 2012

Message from Our Founder As an Entrepreneur I have been

This led to an invitation to the 2010

involved in many new initiatives

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

and exciting concepts. Though its

Awards in London. It was there

perhaps unusually dramatic for a

that I was asked to organize a

document styled as a report, this

global engagement initiative for

initiative has changed my life more

Global Entrepreneurship Week. I

than any other. In fact, more than

said yes and just 3 days later found

that, it has started a chain of

myself pitching at the Global

events that will positively change

Entrepreneurship Congress in

the lives of many people – more

Dubai. Suddenly, Smaller Earth

about World Merit in a moment.

were committed to running a worldwide competition and, from a

Your Big Year came about through

personal perspective, my life was

the success of Smaller Earth

about to change.

Group, a collection of youth focused companies started in

We created a format that would

1999. Smaller Earth has the vision

inspire participation and that led to

of positively impacting 20 million

a series of incredible prizes. This

people by 2020 and it was my job

includes an all expenses paid trip

to explore ways to achieve that. I

to the UK for finalists and a

was able to devote time to joining

yearlong trip around the world for

new networks and I also accepted

our winner.

positions on the board of organizations focused on promoting entrepreneurship.

Chris Arnold

The idea was to capture attention and

this that will make our featured event

then engage our audience with the

of Global Entrepreneurship Week

theme of entrepreneurship. It worked!

increasingly relevant and impactful.

And the following pages are our

Through World Merit we intend to

attempt to share the success of Your

provide accessible opportunities for

Big Year 1 and Your Big Year 2.

youth, raise aspirations and develop entrepreneurial spirit. Your Big Year

Before you read on about how Your Big

will help us populate the World Merit

Year has networked global talent, I

community platform and that will in

would like to set a context. Your Big

turn strongly signpost worldwide

Year has led to the development of a

initiatives that spark start-ups,

new organization, World Merit, and it is

innovation, and better leadership.

Chris Arnold

Please use our competition to inspire engagement, and please partner with us to provide opportunity to our upcoming generations.

President Smaller Earth Group Founder Your Big Year Co-Founder World Merit

The Your Big Year Community With over 100,000 participants representing more than 200 countries Your Big Year has captured a community of aspiring entrepreneurs and global citizens.

The following pages give an

into global issues, and sharing their

insight into the caliber of

thoughts with world leaders.

individuals engaged so far. This community will be grown and

Here are the brief biographies of our

developed in the World Merit

lead ambassadors, the winners of

social media platform where

Your Big Year 1 and 2

opportunity, innovation and cross border collaboration, will be the norm.

The Winners Leading our community are the first three winners of Your Big Year - Charles Batte, Michael Teoh and Carielle Doe. Each have spent a year as ambassadors, travelling the world, enjoying diverse cultures, gaining insight

Engaging Photo by John Cassidy

Charles Batte Uganda As winner of Your Big Year 2012,

its own, but during his studies he

Charles has just completed his

has started a farm that employs

world travels in his role as

50 people seasonally, and opened

Ambassador. His personal story is

a health facility that provides key

remarkable with Charles

services to 500 people. Charles

managing to step through difficult

inspires everyone he comes into

circumstances to truly

contact with and will certainly be

demonstrate his talent and

someone who will lead his

determination. He won a

community and his generation to

scholarship to study medicine at

creating a better and more

University, which is noteworthy on

equitable world.

Michael Teoh Malaysia Michael won the first Your Big

community and entrepreneurship

Year Competition, taking on his

projects. For his age, he is already

role as World Merit ambassador

a renowned speaker, speaking at

alongside Carielle.

major global conferences on the subject of Youth Development. He

After travelling to over 20

currently works, consulting

countries, he returned to his home

government agencies, companies

country of Malaysia, and is now

and NGOs on engaging and

working hard to inspire young

developing youth.

entrepreneurs. In sharing what he "Teoh was named Malaysia's Most

connected with more than 10,000

Outstanding Youth"

young people across 100

CNN's Quest Means Business

Determined

has learned on his trip, he has

Photo by Melissa Stewart

Resolute

Photo by Melissa Stewart

Carielle Doe

USA

From New York, Carielle had

was an international standard

already worked for leading media

athlete and showed how best to

outlets like MSNBC and ABC

collaborate and compete, and

before finding Your Big Year. In

now as a media professional has

the first YBY final Carielle was one

been showing her drive by

of our staff picks to win because of

developing and leading

her engaging and dynamic

workshops through an African

personality, and, with Michael, she

based initiative called Journalists

won and proved us right. Carielle

for Human Rights.

Community Champions Community can be defined as ‘the

and wire transferred a sum of

condition of sharing or having

money to Calvin. This included

certain attitudes and interests in

funds from community members

common’. Our definition is

that Calvin had not met and got

stronger than that.

him instantly back on his feet and operating. The support was

The group will collaborate and

instant and natural, and Calvin

innovate for a better world and

would do exactly the same for

here is an example... Calvin Jodisi

others.

from Kenya was robbed of almost all of his possessions. There was

This is a true community, through

no insurance. Within days the

tough times, and to create better

community rallied. They pooled

times.

Sarah Davies

Cesar Orlando

United Kingdom

Brazil

Energetic

Vibrant

Articulate

Photo by Melissa Stewart

Barbra Rudolph USA Barbra recently graduated from

philanthropic endeavour that

New York University in the

pools creativity and talent from

Steinhardt School of Culture,

different sectors in order to fund

Education and Human

raise and promote awareness on

Development. Using her

important social issues around

entrepreneurial spirit Barbra

the globe.

co-founded the MAP Collective (Maximize All Potential), a

Carlos Hincapie

Judith Hutchinson

Colombia

UK

Creative

Encouraging

Hanane Belyagou

Adam Butterfield

Morocco

USA

Sincere

Motivated

Inspirational

Photo by Melissa Stewart

Sujit Lalwani India Sujit is a young entrepreneur and

international conglomerates from

renowned young motivational

his entrepreneurial ideas.

speaker in India & Nepal. He founded Inspiration Unlimited (an

He is also aspiring to be an

upcoming training company in

internationally best-selling author

India) to much acclaim. His vision

and poet, and has just had his first

for the future is to grow large

book ‘Life Simplified’ published.

Crystal Cha

Chiara Vergani

Malaysia

Italy

Fair

Persuasive

Alexander Jarvis

Dhruv Bhushan

UK

India

Single-minded

Ingenious

Unwavering Linh Do Australia Linh Do is a social change

Linh co-founded www.oursay.org

advocate focused primarily on

and www.theverb.org, but her

environmental issues. She leads

entrepreneurial journey started

through community organising,

with success as her ‘Change a

altering paradigms in technology,

Million Light Bulbs campaign’ led

and by political advocacy. She is 22

to legislation that phased out the

and has already developed a

sale of incandescent light bulbs in

global reputation for leadership

Australia.

skills and public speaking.

Cai Di China

Bianca Benitez Paraguay

Striving

Energetic

Aoife Ni Chiardha

Michael Didyk

Ireland

Canada

Supportive

Intelligent

Passionate

Photo by Melissa Stewart

Toby Jordan New Zealand Toby has become one of the lead

Toby managed to interview both

Ambassadors in World Merit

Prime Minister John Key of New

because of his consistent delivery

Zealand and Sir Richard Branson

and determination. He is currently

as part of the Your Big Year

working at The Hong Kong

competition.

Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Sydney.

Leysan Abdullina

Daniel Szabo

Russia

Hungary

Astute

Focused

Andia Richardson

Saima Majeed

USA

Pakistan

Positive

Caring

Tenacious

Photo by John Cassidy

Marcelo Vieira Brazil Marcelo grew up in Sao Paulo,

After spending time in

aspiring to be an entrepreneur

marketing and management

from the age of 12. In 2000, he

consultancy, Marcelo has

received a National Human Rights

started his own business,

Composition Prize awarded by the

‘Eureca Empreendedorismo

Brazilian Government.

Universitário’ to promote entrepreneurship among undergraduates across Brazil.

Haze Ng

Paul Gardner

Hong Kong

UK

Approachable

Collaborative

Melissa Coppocks

Kayla Sarte

Australia

Philippines

Strong

Constructive

Spirited Sukhi Atwal and Harijinder Atwal

Canada

Canadian siblings, Sukhi and

Harinder is also the lead of the

Harjinder, have complimentary

iTravel TV Channel.

strength but shared and explosive entrepreneurial spirit. They are

“Sukhi is one of the most natural

serial entrepreneurs currently

and articulate people I’ve ever

expanding business in both India

interviewed”

and Thailand.

Roger Phillips, BBC Radio Merseyside

Ioana Felicia

Alicja Karalus

Romania

Poland

Open

Smart

Kim Laycock

Juan Herranda

United Kingdom

Spain

Committed

Unifying

Trusted Lindsey Thompson USA Growing up in Hope, Indiana would

and her clear determination to

perhaps provide an emphasis on

take action that made her stand

certain characteristics, and

out in the competition.

certainly Lindsey’s default position is optimism.

Though Lindsey didn’t win, Smaller Earth hired her on to the

It was her energy and drive that led

full time staff in 2011. What good

her to the final of Your Big Year 1. It

is finding global talent if you don’t

was her ability to galvanize others

use it to build the best staff?

Melanie Lewis

Sunita Basnet

Canada

Nepal

Generous

Innovative

Lauren Cochrane Australia Charismatic

Driven Calvin Jodisi Kenya Having lost his parents to

project for Soons children’s home,

Tuberculosis at a young age,

generating an income for the home.

Calvin has learned the meaning of independence and

Realising his entrepreneurial

self-motivation.

potential, Calvin has now founded an organization named ‘Change

He has been able to inspire and

Mind, Change Future’, with the

impact his local community from

purpose of launching mentoring

an early age by starting a

programmes for schoolchildren

self-sustainable rabbit-keeping

aged 4 – 16.

Other Notable Members of The Community Bayu Sutrisno, Indonesia

Md. Mehedi Hassan, Bangladesh

Osiris Hoepel, Netherlands

Kyle Noda, USA

Mohammad Sorifur Rahman, Bangladesh

Dorina Carc, Romania

Yih Liang Tan, Malaysia

Sabirah Sulaiman, Malaysia

Peter Lin, UK

Andreea Liana Carc, Romania

Diego Ucha, Brazil

Ninad Waman, India

Fernanda Pereira, Paraguay

Salim Djellali, Algeria

Erin Schrode, USA

Amy Horner, UK

Yingjie Shen, China

Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo, Cameroon

Viola Malone, USA

Mazlinah Moideen Kutty, Malaysia

Asmae Hilal, Morocco

Bánk Baderinwa, Hungary

Marsya Kamrul Ariffin, Qatar

May AbdelKafy, Egypt

Angelena Noda, USA

Juhaina Al-hajri, Oman

Muhammad Hafiz, Malaysia

Lindsey Quaderer, USA

Bilel Bouaffar, Algeria

Lilia Fuentes, Mexico

Darathtey Din, Cambodia

Joseph Phelan, UK

Ali Rice, UK

Daisy Tuzo, Kenya

Katie Meenan, Switzerland

Maxime Jim Toure, Rwanda

Louisa Garbett, UK

Atmane Messaoudi, Algeria

Ryan Kear, USA

Kathryn Omar, UK

Dikshya Poudyal, Nepal

Zoha Khalid, Pakistan

Modou Lamin Beyai, Gambia

Shahnoz Mukhamadieva, Tajikistan

Hani Salama, Egypt

Ana Kurkhuli, Georgia

Lamia Bashar, Bangladesh

Carolina Carvalho, Brazil

Daniel Abwao, Kenya

Irish Young, China

Dzung Nguyen, Vietnam

Aida Espindola, Mexico

Lydia Colton, UK

Nur Shafikah, Singapore

Felipe Oliveira, Brazil

Carolyne Kariuki, Kenya

Rachel Coleman, Republic of Ireland

Noelle Kan, Malaysia

Kevin Qiu, China

M. Jimena Vargas, Colombia

Alan Jarandilla Nuñez, Bolivia

Nie Rui, China

Dominique Labaki, USA

Carolina Carneiro, Brazil

Keri Lyttle, USA

Shayra Madero-Fajardo, Mexico

Salim Fethallah, Algeria

Jordy van Kuijk, UK

Sandile Shabangu, South Africa

Jorge Pizarro, Chile

Xasherid Castillo, USA

Jessica Dye, New Zealand

Christopher Loreck, USA

Timothy Phelps, USA

Raymund Anthony , Philippines

Tânia Pires, Portugal

Muhammad Jazib Saeed Khan, Pakistan

Eunice Takyi, Ghana

Sayid Abdullaev, Kyrgyzstan

Bianca Simina, Romania

Janet Mwangi, Kenya

Alexandra Cheatham, USA

Agnieszka Mierska, Poland

Tawhidul Alam, Bangladesh

Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko, Ukraine

Anna Skentelbery, UK

Tatiane Fernandes, Brazil

The Statistics 100,000+ entrants

200+ countries

20 Million social reach

200+

media outlets reports about Your Big Year, including BBC and MTV

25

countries featured Your Big Year on the radio and in newspapers

Continued...

Your Big Year 1 44,489 applicants

Female: 46% Male: 54%

18-24

25-34

35-44

45+

From 168 Countries

Your Big Year 2 60,249 applicants

Female: 44% Male: 56%

18-24

25-34

35-44

40+

From 221 Countries

Your Big Year 1

Participation and Engagement

3500 people competed in a 24 hour Quiz Marathon.

100

pitches made to female entrepreneurs.

1200 liverpool students engaged with at 6 schools, 6 colleges and 3 universities.

120

people collected magazine and newspaper clippings about entrepreneurs from 3 or more countries.

2000 photographs taken of finalists with Liverpool residents.

Year 1

Year 2

Italy

nes ia

Indo

Indi a

1465 1081

3505

3543

2437

2047 1959

1348

601

280

416 210

y

ng

g Ko

Hon

247 244

373 519

1289

2036 1509

867

664

156

151

65

ce

man

Ger

a

mbi a

Fran

Colo

Chin

ada

Can

zil

Bra

esh

glad

Ban

ia

Aus tral

ria

Alge

5967

13375

25 Most Engaged Countries

Rus sian

USA

UK

ion

erat

Fed

ania

nd

nd

Irela

Rom

c of

ubli

Rep

Pola

nes

ippi

Phil

1163 983

519

882 308

271

657 308

96

105 453

ista

n

826 665

948

220 329

al

108

land

Zea

Pak

New

ays ia

Nep

Mal

a

Ken y

3937

2130 2453

5110

7127

6882

11943

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

Henry Ford

Your Big Year 2

Participation and Engagement

5000

5

submitted.

Entrepreneurship Congress 2012.

70

100+

Your Big Year photographs

speeches at the Global

international events hosted by

interviews with journalists

Your Big Year finalists during

during the Liverpool final.

Global Entreneurship Week.

100+

Your Big Year interviews with globally influential people, including: Sir Richard Branson, Founder Virgin Group John Key, the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand Tony Fernandes, Founder Air Asia Martha Lane Fox, Baroness of Soho and founder ofwww.lastminute.com Sir Terry Leahy, Former CEO, TESCO Major-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster Anna Karina Jardin, artist, activist, and NGO founder Deborah Henry, Miss Universe Abu Shahadat Mohammad Ali, Founder Greenland Pharmaceuticals Ltd Ashok Rao, Entrepreneur and Chairman of TiE

Direct participation in Your Big Year 2 with some of the worlds biggest and brightest.

John Key, the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand

Anderson Cooper

Sir RIchard Branson

Sir Terry Leahy

50+

hours of filmed television footage.

Charles's Big Year Kenya

Colombia

Masai Mara Big Cat wildlife

Catalina Munoz Foundation,

Conservation and Research

building houses for people living

Zambia

in slums project

Victoria Falls Treevolution Project

Australia

South Africa

Conservation Volunteers Project

Speeches at Mazars event and

New Zealand

other Entrepreneurship events,

Meeting with the government

Sports and community project

and Global Entrepreneurship

USA

Congress leaders

Kamp Kiwanis Summer Camp for

India

people with special needs, New

Your Big Year finalist Sujit’s

York visit

wedding, worked with School

Mexico Social Entrepreneurship talk,

Children in Mumbai and New Delhi to inspire Sports projects

Metamorphisis (special needs

USA

children)

Ashoka U Conference, Hult

Brazil

International Business School,

Speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress and in Universities in Rio and San Paulo, Volunteered on Sports and Social projects

Speaking events

Michael and Carielle's Big Year Hungary

Canada

Speaking at universities about

Volunteer in Banff National Park

Entrepreneurship

Thailand

USA Kamp Kiwanis Summer Camp for

Volunteer Teaching project

people with special needs

China

Colombia

Global Entrepreneurship Congress

Malaysia Meeting government officials, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia and giving speaks at local universities

Switzerland Delivered speech at One Young World conference

Australia Conservation Volunteers Australia Project

New Zealand Speaking at local universities and Entrepreneurial events

Peru Volunteer Water Tanks Project

Guatemala Stove building in the local community

El Dora do Bird & Nature Reserve Conservation project

India Trekking & Volunteering with Children

Zimbabwe Antelope park working with lion rehabilitation

Mozambique Volunteering with children

South Africa Cape Town sports project

Liberia Studied local elections

UK Handing over the title of Your Big Year Ambassador to year 2 winner Charles Batte

Thank You to Our Supporters There have been many organizations and individuals who have strongly supported the launch and establishment of Your Big Year, and we would like to express our huge appreciation for all that valuable support.

The list of those who donated hours to building Your Big Year or working and mentoring the fantastic Your Big Year community is very long and its not possible for us to mention everyone here, but there are some partners or sponsors that World Merit would like to note and thank, they are: Smaller Earth Global Entrepreneurship Week Liverpool Vision Liverpool City Council STA Travel Mazars Student Universe Bridgestreet Apartments Tesco Wild Thang Scientiam Liverpool ONE Academy ONE Camp Leaders Rights & Humanity Everton Football Club One Young World World Nomads Compass Benefits Student Beans

Trek America Bauer Media African Impact Global Vision International (GVI) Conservation Volunteers Australia Greenpop IDEX Inspiration Unlimited Kamp Kiwanis Plantation School Childwall C of E School Liverpool Community College Liverpool John Moores University Wirral Metropolitan College Melissa Stewart Photography David Cassidy Photography Metamorphosis (Mexico) Endeavor Start Up Malaysia Youth Business International

A WORLD MERIT INITIATIVE