HP LIFE Takes the Stage at the Global Citizen Festival

From Central Park to around the world, the movement continues!
Oct 7, 2013 1:25 PM ET
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival

HP Data Central

The Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City (28 September 2013), was a great success, attended by 60,000 live-music fans, global citizens, would-be entrepreneurs, and supporters of the HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE).

HP is the technology partner for The Global Poverty Project and Global Citizen Festival, working to empower entrepreneurs to build and grow a business, create jobs and help societies thrive. With HP LIFE e-Learning, anyone, anywhere, anytime can access free cloud-based business and IT skills training, a global community of like-minded people, and the potential for e-mentoring support. During the event, musician Jake Clemons introduced the crowds to a young woman, Bano Fatima, who has used HP LIFE training to build her own entrepreneurial skillset. She has launched a small-scale enterprise, Weaver's Hut, helping to lift a community of weavers in India out of poverty. Her incredible entrepreneurship story received the most online votes from the HP LIFE/Global Poverty Project community, ahead of the stories of four other highly inspiring HP LIFE entrepreneurs, and earned her the HP LIFE Entrepreneurship Award. Gabi Zedlmayer, HP VP of Sustainability and Social Innovation, presented Bano with an HP EliteBook Revolve notebook and $5,000.

Recognition was also given during the festival to a learning institution in Nigeria. Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) received a prestigious Global Citizen Movement Award for its ongoing contributions to entrepreneurial development in Africa. AEA delivers support to underserved and extremely poor communities, and has proved to be an innovative and inspiring HP LIFE partner encouraging small and growing businesses with creative programs, youth initiatives, start-up boot camps, and more. Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus presented the award to AEA’s Managing Director Aisha Abubakar, and Center Manager and Lead Trainer Wale Ajiboye.

HP’s commitment to entrepreneurship continues to grow. At the festival, Gabi announced HP is committing to working with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to bring access to HP LIFE e-Learning entrepreneurship training to more than 15,000 refugees in 15 countries by 2015. “We stand in solidarity with all refugees and pledge to help them gain or further their education now,” said Gabi. HP has been working with the UNHCR to establish 56 Technology Centers in 25 countries so far. 

Live on stage were Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, and Kings of Leon, whose performances were streamed live and for 72 hours post-festival to an estimated global audience of 20+ million. The impact of this event continues around the world, and it has raised awareness of HP LIFE e-Learning —which prepares entrepreneurs for small business success. Many global citizens took action with HP LIFE to earn points to enter the festival ticket draw.

For more information:

Watch the video:www.globalfestival.com

See the images from the Global Citizen Festival: www.snapfish.com/globalcitizen

To register for HP LIFE e-Learning: www.life-global.org