Jürgen Griesbeck, Founder and CEO of streetfootballworld, has today been announced as the European Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia 2011.

The prize is awarded by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship to outstanding social entrepreneurs in Europe who create sustainable social innovation. The award was presented by Hilde Schwab, Chairperson and Cofounder of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

Through the love of football, streetfootballworld brings individuals and organisations together behind a common goal: empowering young people to rise above their circumstances.

Collaborating for change
The streetfootballworld network unites over 80 organisations that use football to tackle social challenges like HIV/AIDS, crime and homelessness.

streetfootballworld also drives an international coalition of private and public sector bodies to strengthen network members, who in 2010 alone reached out to over 600,000 young people worldwide.

“It’s an honour to be named Social Entrepreneur of the Year,” said Jürgen Griesbeck.

“At a time when economic and social impact are becoming more and more intertwined, streetfootballworld is ready to stand with fellow social enterprises at the forefront of creative, needs-driven solutions to global issues.”

Jürgen Griesbeck received the award after the opening plenary session on 8 June 2011 in the Hofburg Congress Center. He will take part in the regional World Economic Forum alongside other leading social entrepreneurs and representatives from civil society, public institutions, and the private sector to discuss the theme “Expanding the Frontiers of Innovation”.