In September 2007, President Clinton announced the launch of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), a new project that challenges students and universities to tackle global problems with practical, innovative solutions.

Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting for students, national youth organizations, and university officials to discuss solutions to pressing global issues. The second CGI U Meeting was held at The University of Texas at Austin from February 13-15, 2009. Nearly one thousand students came together to make a difference in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Energy & Climate Change, Global Health, Peace & Human Rights, and Poverty Alleviation. To learn more about the 2009 CGI U Meeting, click here.

CGI U is more than just an event. It is a growing community of young leaders who don’t just discuss the world's challenges -- they take real, concrete steps toward solving them. Prior to attending the meeting, each student and university must develop and submit a Commitment to Action: a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on his or her campus or in the wider global community. Commitments range from installing energy-efficient light bulbs to establishing campus bike-share programs, from distributing life-saving water filtration kits to designing medical backpacks for nomadic doctors in Africa. Since the inaugural meeting, nearly 2,000 commitments have been made by students around the world.

CGI U is proof that young people have the power to make a significant impact by confronting some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Learn more at CGIU.org.