By Rieva Lesonsky

Yesterday marked the start of the second annual Global Entrepreneurship Week sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation.  The event introduces millions of young people around the world to the benefits of entrepreneurship. Last year, more than 3 million people in 100 countries participated.

One of the most worthwhile groups involved in Global Entrepreneurship Week is The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). This organization provides entrepreneurship education to young people from low-income communities. Since it started over 20 years ago, NFTE has helped nearly 300,000 young people in 21 states and 12 countries. A follow-up of NFTE alumni showed that 33 percent were still running a business.

If you know me, you know NFTE is close to my heart—as is the concept of youth entrepreneurship in general. It’s not too late to get involved in Global Entrepreneurship Week. To find out about Global Entrepreneurship Week activities in your area, visit the event’s Web site.