Unilever launches Young Entrepreneurs Awards

Unilever recently launched a global search for young entrepreneurs, 35 and below, who can find practical and innovative solutions to some of the world's biggest sustainability challenges for the 2015 Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneurs Awards.

Unilever Sri Lanka (USL) is looking for budding young local entrepreneurs who meet the criteria and offer them the opportunity to compete globally for the top prize.

Currently in its third year, the awards are part of Unilever's efforts to support the 17 United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development, ratified on September 25.

These ambitious goals set out to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change, empower women, secure universal water access and reduce hunger by 2030. If the goals are met, they will ensure the health, safety and future of the planet and everyone on it.

Director, Human Resources and Corporate Relations, Unilever Sri Lanka, Sameer Nagarajan said, "Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a new economic age with young entrepreneurs leading the charge towards positive social and environmental outcomes and greater prosperity.

Their unwillingness to accept the world as it is and their commitment to change it is more than deserving of being nurtured and encouraged."

"The Awards seek to identify and recognize young innovators anywhere in the world, who have already begun to address some of the challenges at the heart of the Global Goals. We believe that given the chance and the right support, they can create positive movements for change and a brighter future," he said.

The Awards, in partnership with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), and in collaboration with Ashoka, offer seven young people over €200,000 in financial support and individually-tailored mentoring.

The overall winner will also receive the Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Prize.

Director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Polly Courtice said, "The young entrepreneurs supported by the Unilever Awards exemplify the creativity and dynamism we need to respond to and construct a new economy that will deliver prosperity long into the future while delivering positive outcomes for societies and the environment."