Our Story
From a transformative immersion in Ghana to an ecosystem empowering hundreds of young changemakers across the UK.
The Chief Rabbi's Ben Azzai Programme
Whilst both (Asher Levy and Dan Amroussi) studying at the University of Leeds, we were selected onto the Chief Rabbi’s Ben Azzai Programme where we attended an immersive trip to Ghana to learn about the realities of extreme poverty. We interacted with local Ghanaians, exposing us to the challenges facing certain communities including malnutrition, gender inequalities and limited education. Conversations with locals about these challenges were highly informative and emotional. At times, it was difficult to explain to locals that our purpose at this moment was to learn and understand as opposed to financing any immediate solution. Not until we had a stronger foundation of understanding were we able to take responsibility.
Entering the Corporate World
After graduating, we entered the corporate world of accountancy and commercial law. We were surprised to learn how central corporate social responsibility goals are to effective businesses irrespective of the industry. We did not necessarily expect to find that the knowledge we gained from the Ben Azzai Programme would be applicable to workplace environments. We felt driven to inspire other young people to apply their commercial acumen to make a social impact.
The Start of YSE
We launched the Young Social Entrepreneurs competition, for school students to design and develop their own social enterprise in response to challenges faced in impoverished communities. The competition empowers young people to reflect on their worldview and equips them with the entrepreneurial mindset to inspire positive change. Since our launch, over 300 students from across 20 different schools have taken part.
The Final Pitch
The culmination of our first Final Pitch was a monumental moment. During COVID-19, with social distancing rules, we managed to host an online Zoom event with over 100 guests watching the Top 5 groups present their project ideas to our panel of expert judges.
YSE LEARN
We set up YSE LEARN to engage more students outside of those taking part in the competition. This allowed us to speak with groups of over 100 at a time, who learn about subjects of sustainability and viability within international development, in a hands-on and interactive way. We received brilliant feedback from teachers watching our workshops, from the likes of Hasmonean High School for Girls and City of London.
First In-Person Final Pitch: YSE LAUNCH
In our second year of YSE LAUNCH, as the world began to emerge from the pandemic, we were thrilled to finally bring our community together in person for our first ever Final Pitch event. The evening marked a major milestone for YSE, bringing together over 100 attendees to celebrate youth-led social innovation. The event featured five outstanding finalist teams pitching their social enterprise ideas, and an esteemed judging panel including senior leaders from the worlds of human rights, social impact and entrepreneurship, including the Head of Human Rights at Control Risks and a recipient of the Charles Bronfman Prize.
Prize Trip to Geneva
The winning groups of the Young Social Entrepreneurs 2022 competition attended a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Geneva, Switzerland, to visit the headquarters of the United Nations, CERN and the Red Cross. The participants also visited Sidley Austin LLP to learn about the importance of social entrepreneurship within the private sector. The trip ended with a session at the World Jewish Congress to hear about effective means and methods of creating tangible change.
YSE LEAD
We set up YSE LEAD to allow previous competition finalists to continue their educational journey with YSE, with our first session taking place on a boat! The programme aims to go beyond the learning and provide practical advice on how to make tangible, positive contributions to society. Participants visit leading NGOs, social enterprises and corporate firms to understand how positive change can be made in different settings. We also partner with organisations to offer our alumni participants an internship at the end of the programme.
Became a Registered Charity
Following the growth and impact of YSE’s programmes, we took the important step of formally incorporating as a registered charity, strengthening our foundations and enabling us to build a sustainable organisation for the future. As part of this journey, we established our first Board of Trustees, bringing together a group of experienced and passionate individuals with expertise across education, entrepreneurship, social impact, law and community engagement. The Board provides strategic oversight, governance and guidance as YSE continues to expand its mission of empowering young people to become social entrepreneurs and changemakers.
Not until we had a stronger foundation of understanding were we able to take responsibility. YSE was created so the next generation doesn't have to wait until after university to build solutions that matter.
