A Kennesaw State student spoke in The Netherlands last month at One Young World Summit, an international event that brings students, businesses and government leaders together to discuss challenging global issues.
Information security and assurance major Veaceslav Cretu is the second Michael J. Coles College of Business student in many years to speak at the OYW Summit. He spoke as a delegate on the education panel, discussing internet inequality in education around the world.
Cretu attended the summit as a scholar, speaker and a flag-bearer at the opening ceremony. He met global leaders and well-known celebrities such as Akon, Rosario Dawson, Lord Michael Hastings and Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter.
“The support of my community led to me being chosen to speak at the summit,” Cretu said. “More importantly, the results of our students and their commitment to social responsibility motivate me to share my vision with the audience.
At first, I was excited because it represented a chance to put emphasis on what is needed to bridge the digital divide, but at the same time a great responsibility.”
In 2015, Cretu founded a social enterprise called DigiKidz, a project that works to reduce technology inequality at underprivileged schools in the Republic of Moldova, his hometown. Through Cretu’s partnerships with DigiKidz, he found out about the OYW Summit and applied to attend.
“I am interested in education because that is my area of expertise. My firm belief is that we will be able to have low rates of unemployment and eradicate poverty, only if policymakers and in-charge institutions will make education accessible in middle and low-income countries, affordable in high-income countries and we, as students, will be seen as human value rather than units of profit,” Cretu said.
Cretu said he believes young voices deserve to be heard throughout the globe, particularly when it comes to policymaking.
“Most of the time, our generation is underrepresented or not represented at all in the decision-making process. Policies are written for us and not by us,” Cretu said. “If we are not too young to fight in wars, then we are not too young to run for offices or to lead. Summits such as this offer the possibility to bring your own contribution to the world’s development, and even a chance to influence outcomes.”
Professional sales major Stephanie Carvajalino spoke at last year’s summit in Colombia.
“It is amazing that we have had two students in a row attend this prestigious event,” Dean of the Coles College Dr. Kathy Schwaig said. “The entrepreneurial skills that Veaceslav and the Carvajalinos learned as Coles College students have empowered them to inspire real change in communities around the world. I am so proud of them and thrilled that they get to share their stories on the world stage.”
