By Patrick Doherty

 At the Social Good Summit, many of the speakers stressed the importance of helping women and girls become more educated, healthier, and better protected. Usually the primary caregivers for the next generation, women have great power in educating and nurturing the world's children. But they are the most at risk as these statistics from the Half the Sky Movement highlight:

1. Women and girls account for 80% of the people trafficked across international borders each year, most often for sexual exploitation.

2. In Somaliland a woman faces a 1-in-12 chance of dying during childbirth as opposed to a 1 in 4,800 chance for women in the U.S.

3. Women between the ages of 15 and 45 are more likely to be maimed or die from male violence than from cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined.

  Below are six projects focused on the most vulnerable in our global community: women and girls.

1. Half the Sky

The Half the Sky Movement is cutting across platforms to ignite change needed to put an end to the oppression of women and girls worldwide. Inspired by Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Nicholas Kristof (@nickkristof) and Sheryl WuDunn's book of the same name, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide brings together videos, websites, games, blogs and other educational tools to raise awareness of women's issues - namely Economic Empowerment, Education, Forced Prostitution, Gender-Based Violence, Maternal Mortality and Sex Trafficking - and to further provide concrete steps to fight these problems and empower women. Just aired on October 1 and 2 on PBS was a two part documentary Half the Sky: Turning Oppression intoOpportunity for Women Worldwide which you can view online or purchase on Amazon or Netflix.

Working with Asi Burak (@aburak), Co-President of Games for Change, the Half The Sky team is creating a gaming concept, targeting women in the developing world. Three mobile games for feature phones teach women important entrepreneurial, health and business skills by playing casual games. Games for Change is also working with the award-winning developer Frima Studio to produce an adventure game on Half The Sky Movement: The Game on Facebook set to launch November 13, 2012. The experience aims to engage millions of players and transform compelling gameplay into real-world actions and micro-donations.

2. Equal Futures Partnership

Building on President Obama’s challenge at the UN General Assembly in September 2011, the United States will be working with various country partners in a new international effort – the Equal Futures Partnership – to break down barriers to women’s political participation and economic empowerment. The goal of the Equal Futures Partnership is for each member country to expand opportunities for women and girls to fully participate in public life, and to drive more inclusive economic growth.

As part of these efforts, the White House Council on Women and Girls is launching an app challenge: create an app that promotes civic education and/or inspires girls to serve as leaders in our democracy. Notable apps will be highlighted on the White House website and blog.

3. GSMA mWomen Design Challenge Launch: Redefining the User

The US Agency for International Development, Qtel Group, the Australian Agency for International Development, and the GSMA Development Fund have announced the launch of the GSMA mWomen Design Challenge: Redefining the User Experience. The challenge calls on the global digital design community to develop products that will make the smartphone user experience more intuitive, particularly for women in developing countries who, because of lack of opportunity, struggle with technical literacy.

GSMA research shows women to be 21% less likely than men to own a mobile phone in low- to middle-income countries. The resulting mobile phone gender gap represents as many as 300 million women in the developing world who do not have access to this potentially life-enhancing tool. A key step towards closing the mobile phone gender gap, according to the study, is to consider the user experience of resource-poor women as being central to mobile device design. About 22% of women surveyed in Egypt, India, Papua New Guinea and Uganda who do not use mobile phones say it is because they do not know how to use the phones. To serve these women, mobile tools must be designed with simpler interfaces that overcome reading and technical literacy barriers.

4. Girl Up

Girl Up is an innovative campaign of the United Nations Foundation that is is now 252,000 girls strong. The campaign gives American girls the opportunity to become global leaders by channeling their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for United Nations programs, which help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.

5. ONE’s Women and Girls Initiative

ONE, the global anti-poverty group cofounded by Bono, is launching an initiative to drive awareness and action in support of programs that are helping women and girls lift themselves and their families out of extreme poverty.

6. We Advance

Co-founded by actor and activist Maria Bello, We Advance is a movement focused on the health, safety and well-being of women in Haiti. They work in some of the poorest slums in all of the western hemisphere – Wharf Jeremy and Cité Soleil – where security issues deter the work of most international NGOs. We Advance University is a web and mobile site dedicated to connecting local women's groups in remote areas to each other, as well as to non-profit support. The site is a directory in which women can easily find services nearby or simply ask for help. For example, a rape victim can find that "two miles away the Red Cross is doing rape tests and 10 miles away there is a lawyer who can file rape-charge papers," with just the click of a button. The site is also about education and entertainment.

By Patrick Doherty

The Social Good Summit kicked off in New York City Saturday. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton sent a special video message to the conference stressing the importance of digital technology and social media in connecting the world and solving many of the world's greatest problems. In encouraging everyone to get involved the global conversation, she said "today anyone can be a diplomat - all you have to do is hit send".

Summit co-sponsors, Kathy Clavin CEO of the United Nations Foundation and Helen Clarke, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme started the program off by reminding us that the UN Millenium Development Goals - set in 2000 are set to expire in 2015. About half of them have been met. Clarke cited the goal to halve global poverty. - which in overall terms will be reached but only because of China's rapid growth. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa for example still have a long way to go.

With the raid expansion of digital connectivity - particularly, with regard to mobile, the chance for truly global altering change for good in area such as education, remote health diagnosis, inclusive finance, crisis prevention and citizen journalism is beaching a reality. And the day showcased a number of diverse issues and the many digital and social solutions that are helping people and saving lives.

Jill Sheffield, President of Women Deliver talked about the need for family planning education. A woman dies every minute and a half due to maternity complications. Following a conference in London last year, governments have committed $2.6 billion to raising awareness and education levels around family planning. Mobile applications such as the Shot@Life paediatrics app, launched today, will help mothers not only record those special moments in a child's life but provide information and reminders on their health needs.

The government too, is recognising the power of data to drive innovation and entrepreneurialism. Todd Park, the White House Chief Technology Officer focused on open government as a driver of innovation. By releasing the tons of data held by the government on issues such as healthcare, education, public safety and the environment - private individuals and companies are developing new commercial serves and businesses and creating jobs just by using the data that already exists - at no cost to the taxpayer. Park said that since the release of GPS data - now such an integral parti of our our lives - added $90 billion to the US economy alone last year. The government is actively promoting the release and use of data the "datapalooza" hackathons which brings entrepreneurs and government together around key issues. Launching this month is a hackathon around public safety.

The importance of social media as a tool to help government to connect with people was discussed with among some of the most socially active ambassadors in the world and Victoria Esser, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Digital Strategy, US State Department which has over 300 Twitter accounts and 400 Facebook pages alone. The former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray, talked about his experience when the Zimbabwean government actively started to block his attempts to host community meetings with that countries youth. As a result he started to host online Facebook and twitter discussions which rapidly grew from over 200 participants to more than 7,000 - a sizeable proportion of youth in a country of about 12 million. While his view is that nothing can beat face to face diplomacy - social media is a powerful tool thats importance really comes to the fore when that physical interaction is not possible. This was endorsed by Esser of the State Department who recently held a Google Hangout with citizens of Iran.

One of the key takeaways from the panel that also included the current Mexican and Indonesian ambassadors to the USA was that it's important to not to try to control the uncontrollable. Esser said the State Department policy was to let local missions manage their own social media with some high level guidance and just recognise there will be slip ups from time to time (for example, the recent happenings in Egypt). As she said - the digital age is not a happy place for a control freak.

The power to connect people was also highlighted by TMS “Teddy” Ruge, Co-Founder of Project Diaspora which is seeking to re-connect ex-patriates with their former homelands and encourage them to provide help, knowledge and resources to their fellow citizens. Over 60 million Americans, today are either first or second generation immigrants meaning that powerful ties can still exist that can be leveraged to help those developing countries.

Equally important was an acknowledgment that knowledge is power - and Rebecca Moore Engineering Manager, Google Earth Outreach provided some powerful examples of how by using mapping technology citizens are able to shine a light on issues as diverse as the environmental effects of logging and mining on local communities in the USA to exposing the tragedy of the genocide in Darfur.

For a bit of star power, Peter Gabriel stopped by and claimed that the internet "Cannot be controlled. And that's why it is so powerful". His hope - that people power will become reality due to the reach of the mobile phone. With the CEO of Ericsson estimating that 80% of the world will have access to 3G mobile by 2017 and there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020 - Mr Gabriel may just get his wish.

The conference continues through Monday and is being streamed live. Over the weekend over 200 Meetups are occurring in 100 countries around the world from Seattle to Mogadishu, Somalia to Kosovo - all working how digital technology and social media can build a better world. On Monday everyone will come together and share their ideas in a Global Conversation. So why not be part of it. As members of the technology community or at least people interested enough to read this article - I am pretty sure you could help too.

Matthew and Adam Toren have some career advice for young people today: if you want a great job, start a great company. The Torens run YoungEntrepreneur.com, one of the Web's best sites for practical advice on starting, running, promoting and growing a business, aimed primarily at ambitious Millennials. Their first book, Kidpreneurs (which I reviewed at FastCompany.com), managed to distill business lessons into a concise, readable childrens book. Their latest is called Small Business, Big Vision (Wiley, 2011), and it weaves inspirational stories with hands-on guidance to motivate and educate the next generation of successful small business entrepreneurs.

Adam Toren recently sat for an interview to discuss the goals and purpose of their latest book.

What can readers expect to take away from Small Business, BIG Vision?

When we set out to write the book, it was important to us to provide entrepreneurial readers with the information they need most. We looked at the most common questions we hear from entrepreneurs – whether they’re just starting out or have been in business for a long time – and we provided answers in the book that are designed to really give the reader the advice and guidance they’re looking for. Small Business, BIG Vision answers questions like, “Do I need a business plan?” “Do I need outside financing, and how do I find it?” and “How do I know if it’s the right time to hire employees?” We also covered how to use social media to market your business, how to become a recognized expert in your field, and how to turn around a struggling business.

The book provides practical, useful advice on these topics and more, and then it backs up the advice with profiles of some of the most successful entrepreneurs out there. Each chapter has advice and lessons from self-made entrepreneurs who have been wherever the reader is now. It’s very relatable and timely.

 You and your brother, Matthew, have been entrepreneurs your whole lives. How did you get started?

 Our grandfather, Joe, was instrumental in getting us interested in business ownership. When we were in elementary school, he set us up selling these little glider airplanes called Dipper Dos at a local folk festival. We learned how to really wow the crowd with the tricks we could make the planes do, and we sold out quickly. It was a great feeling for a couple of 7 and 8 year old kids, and from there we were hooked.

 We were very fortunate to have the full support of our grandfather and our mother throughout our early ventures. They never told us we should just get jobs or pressured us to avoid the risks of entrepreneurship. They encouraged us to work hard and always do the right thing, and they always let us know they were behind us 100%. Having that kind of support ourselves is a major reason why we wrote the book Kidpreneurs. We want everyone to have the opportunity we had to succeed in whatever business they choose to start.

Given today’s economic climate, is this really a good time to start a business?

That’s a great question. Entrepreneurship comes with a certain amount of risk anyway, so isn’t it crazy to go into business with the added risk of facing uncertain economic times? We don’t think it’s crazy at all. In fact, we truly believe it’s the smartest move anyone can make. Read or watch any news about the economy, and you’ll eventually come across a story about the massive layoffs of the past few years and the fact that many people are taking a year or more to find work. And when they finally do land a job, many are settling for a position and pay far below that of the one they left.

Now, that’s risk. If my only option was to get a job, and I had no income during my search, life would be stressful and scary. No fun at all. On the other hand, with the time most people take to find a job, and the savings they use up in that time, I can think of 10 businesses I could start right now, and I guarantee I’d end up in a better position financially and mentally at the end of that timeframe. An economic climate like we’re in now is the perfect time to start a business.

From all of your experience, what are the most important entrepreneurial lessons that you can share with our readers?

Two things: 1.) Follow your passion, and 2.) never give up. In addition to our own experience, my brother and I have interviewed successful business owners from all over the world for our websites, and for Small Business, BIG Vision; and passion and perseverance are the two factors that stand out most clearly in the most successful entrepreneurs we’ve met.

If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, no obstacle is too big, and you never feel like you’re working. You’ll happily put in all the hours and effort that’s necessary to see your business thrive. Passion is the fuel that ignites your vision. And if you have #1, passion, #2 is easy – you’re much less likely to throw in the towel when challenges come up. We’ve never talked to a single successful entrepreneur who built his or her business without significant challenges, and having the perseverance to keep pushing toward their entrepreneurial vision is what made the greatest difference for them.

Last week I blogged at Fast Company about how high-tech skills and the knowledge economy can give younger entrepreneurs an edge, despite research that shows that older people are more prolific and more successful as entrepreneurs overall. Today Nathaniel Hindman responded with a piece at Huffington Post.I'm not sure if he takes issue with my larger points, but he concludes with this:

"Whichever entrepreneurs -- young or old -- end up founding the most successful companies, if the past few decades are any indication, it's clear that a small number of innovative startups will grow into billion-dollar businesses and drive economic growth."

On that, I think we can both agree.

Tony Stark, the entrepreneur-turned-superhero from theIron Manmovies and comics may be fictional, but the Tony Stark Innovation Challenge, an award for young entrepreneurs, is quite real. Earlier this month, MIT graduate student Nathan Linder flew off with the $15,000top prizefor his invention of adigital bulbto project Web content onto any surface. The prize was furnished by Audi of America.

The Stark Challenge is only the latest (and most opportunistic) of a booming trend in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions that is helping to bring new ideas to the attention of investors, customers and a public hungry for some good economic news. In the U.S., where entrepreneurial culture and infrastructure are already well-developed, this is an incremental increase in opportunities for the mad scientists and dreamers among us. But in the rest of the world, it's a revolution that's kicking up a new wave of business creation with the potential to uplift billions.

Last month in Lima, Peru,The Innovation Contest of the Americas(TIC Americas, sponsored by the non-profit Young Americas Business Trust in collaboration with the Organization of American States) recognized more than a dozen young entrepreneurs from Central and South America, culled from over 3,200 submissions. Full disclosure: I was a judge in this contest and saw with my own eyes the depth, sophistication, ambition, and ingenuity that is fermenting throughout the hemisphere, from Mexico to Argentina, Chile to Jamaica.

In addition to providing a forum for great ideas, these contests accelerate the flow of resources to promising ventures in parts of the world where venture capital, seed money and incubation are only starting to emerge as alternatives to traditional bootstrapping or family-based financing. "Finance is a big problem," said Luis Viguria, Executive Director of Young Americas Business Trust. "The financial sector doesn't give money to young people because they are too risky. That's something we're trying to fight with TIC Americas: to showcase to the financial sector that investments in our young people will pay back. We need to give them a chance."

In India, one of the world's burgeoning centers of new entrepreneurship, innovation contests are becoming one of the premier venues for attracting attention from private finance, NGOs and government. "Idea competition is very recent in India," said Dr. A.S. Rao, an official in the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology who judges these contests from time to time. "There is a large number of young people and students putting themselves in competition for these idea awards. Their perspective is very different. We feel they probably would be able to fix long-festering problems because of the technology now in their hands."

Typically, the contests showcase the best new ideas in social entrepreneurship and eco-innovation alongside commercial and technology-oriented projects. Sometimes the lines are not so easy to draw.DUTO, SA, the winner of the 2007 TIC Americas award as well as a host of others, invented a sensory-based display that allows visually-impaired people to perceive information on a computer monitor. Their socially-oriented goal is to make the product affordable and accessible to primary schools in Latin America, but DUTO is a commercial business.

Winning an innovation contest brings financial resources and recognition, which are both valuable commodities to startup businesses, but in emerging markets, they serve an even more important function. They validate the risks and efforts of innovators: the long hours and sacrifices that dreamers have made, rather than settling for the traditional paths of advancement or stagnation.

Never mind Tony Stark and Iron Man: the winners of these contests are real-life heroes in their hometowns and role-models for young people hungry for change and new opportunities. Very often, successful entrepreneurs in these regions invest considerable amounts of their time and resources to build, strengthen, and advocate for a local entrepreneurial ecosystem, including better infrastructure, greater attention from the financial sector, and more pro-entrepreneurial policies from the government.