Lauren J. Irwin, IIMSAM Youth Goodwill Ambassador, joins the organization as part of the implementation of the Resolution No. 62/126 adopted by the UN General Assembly on policies and programmes involving youth by the IIMSAM. She would focus her branding skill-set on resource generation outreach and for the awareness d... Read full bio
Lauren J. Irwin
Lauren J. Irwin, IIMSAM Youth Goodwill Ambassador, joins the organization as part of the implementation of the Resolution No. 62/126 adopted by the UN General Assembly on policies and programmes involving youth by the IIMSAM. She would focus her branding skill-set on resource generation outreach and for the awareness development on behalf of IIMSAM. Her first assignment as an IIMSAM Youth Goodwill Ambassador was her benefit concerts for the Sichuan, Province earthquake victims in China. Lauren performed a new Chinese language version of her song Stand Tall at a concert at Beijing Capital Stadium on May 25th was televised on Chinese Central Television 7 on May 31st. She performed the song again. On June 1st at a special children's concert in Beijing which will be broadcast by Beijing TV. The 91,000 capacity Beijing Capital Stadium has only recently been completed and will be the focus of the 2008 Summer Olympics which start on August 8th. Lauren was the first Western artist to perform at the new stadium. Lauren's song has been officially chosen to illustrate the Chinese TV coverage of the tragic events in Sichuan, which have to date claimed the lives of an estimated 40,000 people and left a further quarter of a million injured or homeless. The song will also be one of the official songs of the 2008 Summer Games, giving it special poignancy. Stand Tall will also feature in the forthcoming motion picture The Knights Of Impossing worth Park which is due to start production in China later this year and will star Sir Ben Kingsley and Jackie Chan. Stand Tall was chosen to front the British Government's campaign to stop bullying in schools, and she performed for the British Government and Ambassadors from many countries at the Great Hall at Westminster Palace.
She is an accomplished actress, singer and dancer, who started her career at the age of 5. She attended her first dance class as a 2 year old toddler after dancing, instead of walking everywhere. She auditioned for and won the leading part of SALLY in the professional hit stage show, 'Babes in the Wood' at the age of 7. She trained at Angel Arts Academy studying Drama through LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), Dance with RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) and singing with tenor Jon Christos (Manchester School of Music). All examinations including teaching qualifications were reached with the highest marks attainable. At the age of 9 Lauren was chosen by Martin Charnin from 3000 girls, in a nationwide search to star in his musical 'Annie' in London's West End. At this time she also appeared in BAFTA award winning writer Jimmy McGovern's film 'Heart.' Immediately following this she was chosen to appear in the musical 'Oliver' as the Artful Dodger, a part never before played by a female. She was so convincing the critics thought she was a boy. Due to this success she was asked back two years later to play the part of Bet. At age 13 Lauren put together the teen band 'Uzlot' who attained great critical acclaim and appeared on national television as finalists in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, with their self penned song 'Please Don't Cry'. The nation loved them, and many TV appearances followed.
She later became a member of the band 'Just 3', along with her brother, Steven and they scored a record deal with record label HHO and released a song Lauren had written, 'Stand Tall'. Followed by 'Gonna Get You', written by the two guys who had just written for Disney's Power Rangers series and Zenon the movie in the USA. Steven later decided to concentrate on his football career, which turned out to be the right decision as he is now a rising star at Liverpool Football Club and is being hailed as the "new Stephen Gerrard". Lauren then became a solo artist, and signed to her manager Perry Hughes and Roots Music Group. She re-released her song Stand Tall, the ballad version, and her music video to accompany the song starred Liverpool FC and England football star Jamie Carragher and leading actress Samantha Janus, now starring in British soap 'Eastenders'.This was followed by performances on ITV and BBC 1 while a documentary was made about her and shown worldwide on SKY TV. Lauren won worldwide acclaim when she won the inaugural 'Anthony Walker Young Citizen Of The Year Award' for her outstanding achievements. She recently recorded the lead role of Tiffany in the film 'Senseless' by acclaimed writer Maurice Bessman and also took part in a film convention in Florida where she won a scholarship to the New York Film Academy and was named Top Photographic Commercial Model. Lauren has recently moved to live in Los Angeles USA in order to pursue her career to the next level after obtaining an 01 Visa for Extraordinary Ability In The Arts.
IIMSAM'S YOUTH GOODWILL AMBASSADOR ON HER MISSION TO HELP THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN CHINA, MAY 2008
SEE ALSO HER VIDEO OF "STAND TALL," THE SONG THAT HAS TAKEN CHINA AND THE UK BY STORM:
Ms. Blanka Mooney is a Serbian born US citizen and a senior year undergraduate student graduating in December, 2010 with a degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu.
"Growing up in Serbia I faced the tragic events of the war and the experiences have been following me in a... Read full bio
Ms. Blanka Mooney
Ms. Blanka Mooney is a Serbian born US citizen and a senior year undergraduate student graduating in December, 2010 with a degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu.
"Growing up in Serbia I faced the tragic events of the war and the experiences have been following me in a way that I became a very compassionate person towards people in need. I also became interested in international affairs while taking courses from my university and by meeting so many different people with different backgrounds.
Previously I acted as a senator for my university's largest student government body organization and interned with the Hawaii State Congress for the Majority House Leader's Office as a legislative aide.
Aside from being an IIMSAM Youth Delegate I am also am interning for an immigration organization where I am assisting committees to develop leadership, build alliances and create opportunities for civic engagement in the community.
My interest with IIMSAM comes from compassion to those who are less fortunate. By being an IIMSAM Youth Delegate I expect to grow both professionally and personally."
Alexandra Bonvalot, IIMSAM Youth Delegate Summer 2010, a native of France joins the organisation as part of the implementation of the Resolution No. 62/126 adopted by the UN General Assembly on policies and programmes involving youth. She would focus her branding skill-set on resource generation outreach and for the a... Read full bio
Alexandra Bonvalot
Alexandra Bonvalot, IIMSAM Youth Delegate Summer 2010, a native of France joins the organisation as part of the implementation of the Resolution No. 62/126 adopted by the UN General Assembly on policies and programmes involving youth. She would focus her branding skill-set on resource generation outreach and for the awareness development on behalf of IIMSAM and branding the IIMSAM name in the French Republic.
She will also accompany the IIMSAM Delegation to Amman, Jordan where she will be assisting the IIMSAM 2ND Annual International Summit is beign held under the patronage of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan`s Princess H.R.H. Princess Basma Bint Talal.
Mr. Adriel V. Garib is a U.S. national of Dominican descent who is currently attending Mercy College in the Bronx. He will be receiving his degree this December, 2010 in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Adriel is of Dominican and Lebanese descent, and he recently had the privilege of becoming a Dominican ci... Read full bio
Mr. Adriel V. Garib
Mr. Adriel V. Garib is a U.S. national of Dominican descent who is currently attending Mercy College in the Bronx. He will be receiving his degree this December, 2010 in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Adriel is of Dominican and Lebanese descent, and he recently had the privilege of becoming a Dominican citizen in September of 2009. His future plans are to attendgraduate school to obtain a Masters Degree in Criminal Law with the possibility of furthering his educational career in law school.
He has joined IIMSAM so that he can further his knowledge and world view. He looks forward to working towards a universally shared goal of eradicating world hunger.
Ms. Ashley Zeik is a U.S. national of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. In 2009, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in English from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She minored in History, and spent a portion of her undergraduate career studying in Florence, Italy at the Santa Reparata International School ... Read full bio
Ms. Ashley Zeik
Ms. Ashley Zeik is a U.S. national of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. In 2009, she earned her Bachelor's Degree in English from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She minored in History, and spent a portion of her undergraduate career studying in Florence, Italy at the Santa Reparata International School of Art as well as at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus.
While a student at Rutgers, Ashley began teaching piano to students of various ages and backgrounds. Her experiences teaching have been some of the most rewarding and fulfilling. She looks forward to working towards a universally shared goal of eradicating world hunger.
The United Nations General Assembly has recommended that Member States should include a youth representative in their delegations - and with the support of an organization like a national youth council, it's quite possible that a campaign will be successful.
The Road to becoming a Youth Representative:
Step 1. Write to the Head of IIMSAM, outline the merits of youth delegates, and offer to meet to discuss it further.
Step 2. You might also try to get letters of endorsement from all of the above, plus key civil society leaders, both national and international.
Step 3. After the proposal has been accepted, and a nomination and selection procedure established by our Committee, the next step would be to apply for the position.
Priority areas
Each of the Ten Priority Areas identified by the International Community is presented in terms of principal issues, specific objectives, and the actions proposed to be taken by various actors to achieve those objectives. Objectives and actions reflect the three themes of International Youth Year: Participation, Development, and Peace; they are interlinked and mutually reinforcing.
The ten fields of action identified by the International Community are education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and the full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making. The Programme of Action does not exclude the possibility of new priorities which may be identified in the future.
Implementation of the Programme of Action requires the full enjoyment by young people of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and also requires that Governments take effective action against violations of these rights and freedoms and promote non-discrimination, tolerance, respect for diversity, with full respect for various religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds and philosophical convictions of their young people, equality of opportunity, solidarity, security and participation of all young women and men.