SHILLONG, Oct 29: As recognition for over two decades of serial entrepreneurship and youth empowerment leadership, founder and CEO of Meghalaya-based training social enterprise AVENUES, Mark Laitflang Stone, was conferred with AsiaOne’s Asian Youth Empowerment Leader Award 2020-21 at the 15th Edition of Asia-Africa Business and Social Forum: Awards & Business Summit, which was held at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai, on October 26.
Mark’s felicitation has been dubbed as the first time that a homegrown initiative from the North East of India is being recognised in this context on an international platform.
Speaking at the summit, Mark Laitflang Stone said: “There are a number of youth communities around the world, especially in emerging economies, who do not have equal access to equal opportunities. Our interventions in life coaching and soft skills are driving the region towards economic prosperity simply because we know that if our young people don’t have the ability to celebrate the effort without being criticised for failure, there really will be no progress.”
In an effort to promote mutual welfare and facilitate fresher avenues of economic cooperation, networking and investment opportunities in Asia, Middle East and Africa, on a global platform, the one-day mega summit was joined by esteemed dignitaries including ambassadors from eight countries, international business and social leaders such as Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of the Republic of India in Dubai, Malraj de Silva, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, and others.
Mark had found AVENUES at the age of 20, in which he is leading a committed team of young life coaches who have touched the lives of over 1 lakh young people across the Northeastern region of India.