100 Young People from Around the World to Participate in a First-Ever UN Alliance of Civilizations and Education First Summer School in New York

NEW YORK, July 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and EF Education First (EF) announced the names of 100 youth who will participate in the UNAOC - EF Summer School that will take place on August 24-31, 2013 in Tarrytown, NY.

The summer school, a first-ever project between UNAOC, a UN entity, and EF, a private education organization, will train young leaders from around the world to collaborate and search for joint solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Hailing from 94 countries, the 100 participants of the summer school represent a diverse group of individuals who bring diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Participants were chosen based on their level of experience, including an assessment of how impactful they would be on advancing cross-cultural understanding in their own communities back home.

"The young leaders chosen to participate in the UNAOC - EF Summer School are truly inspirational in their desire to acquire the skills to strengthen their ability to effect change in their communities," said Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the UN High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.  "This week-long summer school will empower young people to engage in dialogue that fosters mutual trust and better understanding so that an innovative mindset can emerge and proliferate."

More information about the summer school and a list of its participants can be found at www.unaocefsummerschool.org.

About the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
UNAOC is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, initially proposed and co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Turkey, that works toward a more peaceful, more socially inclusive, world by building mutual respect among peoples of different cultural and religious identities.  UNAOC operates in situations where it can contribute to broader efforts to ameliorate identity-based crises and promote culturally sensitive development policies. Learn more about the UNAOC at www.unaoc.org. 

About EF Education First
Established in 1965 with the mission to break down barriers in language, culture, and geography, EF Education First (EF) is the world's leading international education company. EF (www.ef.com) has helped millions of students learn a new language and travel abroad. With a network of 450 schools and offices worldwide, EF specializes in language training, educational travel, academic degrees, and cultural exchange programs. EF has published the English Proficiency Index (www.ef.com/epi) measuring the English ability of adults in countries across the world. 

Press Contact: Anastasia Evdokimova, [email protected], +7-985-189-0028

Requests for Interviews with the UN High-Representative for UNAOC, contact: Ms. Nihal Saad, [email protected]. +1-646-255-4664