Over the next four weeks, we shall be introducing our 2006 Acumen Fund Fellows. This year’s inaugural cohort comprises a diverse group of individuals who all share not only individual accomplishment but a proven desire to serve, to listen, and to be part of a larger community focused on significant, measurable change. It is thrilling to see talented people who could do so many things in the world choose to give back to it – a spirit embodied by the Acumen Fund team as a whole.

Nadaa Taiyab

“This fellowship at Acumen Fund immediately excited me as it combines many of the elements I am seeking in my next job: an entrepreneurial environment where I will have the space to take initiative, the opportunity to work towards a social vision, and the challenge of working in developing countries.”

Jocelyn Wyatt

“While I have always been committed to sustainable development, I wanted to be part of a pragmatic, market-based approach that went beyond the standard paradigm. I am excited by this rare opportunity to further my professional development in social entrepreneurship, to achieve my goal of creating and leading my own social enterprise in the near future.” (more…)

As we have mentioned in previous posts, we have spent the last several months in an intensive search for the best and brightest young professionals to make up our first cohort of Acumen Fund Fellows. After reviewing applications from some 600 candidates from 52 countries (and talking to many of them), we are extremely pleased to announce our eight 2006 Fellows, who will be starting with us in September:

• Ayeleen Ajanee
• Eric Berkowitz
• Adrien Couton
• David Lehr
• Fabrice Ndjodo
• Keely Stevenson
• Nadaa Taiyab
• Jocelyn Wyatt

(more…)