I'm a uni student and involved in an organisation called AIESEC - about creating positive change agents. Graduating next June, and want to work out next steps (have decided to postpone job hunting for a year or two ... or maybe a lifetime ... well it'll be a lifetime if I can help it and stay away from the corporate world).
My thoughts at the minute is something similar to the way groups like Avaaz or 38 Degrees(UK people power) have idea discussion boards, select the most popular or most liked, and send out a poll to all its members to figure out which ones to focus on. But instead of just signing your name on a petition against a government bill etc. or writing a letter, you become part of seperate action.
Action that in some way looks to change something in that particular field, be that a commercial enterprise (cite: Toms shoes - every pair made, another pair is made for a child in poverty), or things like the world community grid, using spare computer power from individuals to contribute on a global scale to charitable projects.
Would love to start off my lifetime (although the parents don't know how long I'm planning yet) gap year doing something like this...
Or helping start it off, organizing a conference somewhere random but accessible and just keeping it free flowing with different points around a venue to discuss random issues, and see what comes of it...
Any thoughts/ anyone wants to organise a conference like it with me, give me a shout... its been in my head for about 6 months ... a 'change the world' conference but I'd shelved it until I read this article!!!!!! I figure nows the time to get the party started...
