Forsat.org is an educational non-profit dedicated to promoting understanding and disseminating information about business and entrepreneurship among the Farsi-speaking youth.  The content, available in both English as well as Farsi, covers a wide range of topics from arts and culture to science and technology and is sure to capture the interest of many. 

San Francisco, CA, July 14, 2006-- Forsat.org (www.forsat.org), an educational non-profit focused on promoting entrepreneurship among the Persian-speaking youth launched earlier this spring.  Started by a former Silicon Valley executive and two World Bank alumni, it is dedicated to promoting free enterprise towards sustainable economic development.  It is founded on the belief that a healthy and robust private sector is a critical element of a free society.  John Blundell of London-based Institute for Economic Affairs offers encouragement:  "Freedom is indivisible and should know no boundaries. It requires sound institutions and a climate in which enterprise can flourish. It is very important that Forsat.org is promoting this message in the Persian speaking world."

Expanding the global middle class is a critical factor in stabilizing the world economy, and hence, security in the long run.  Without growth, income redistribution is a zero sum game, and human capital development is a necessary condition to growth.  There are at least two components of human capital development: acquisition of knowledge and learning by doing.   As a U.S. entity limited by sanctions, Forsat.org's activities are focused on the former. 

"We try to provide practical knowledge that the young entrepreneurs and managers can use to start or expand businesses," says Noosheen Hashemi, a supporter of Forsat.org.  The site offers how-tos, best practices and links to resources as well as covers big ideas, meta trends and role models, all aiming to bring context and awareness to young people committed to a professional career.  One of the popular articles listed is "Teen entrepreneurs:  How to start a webhosting business."  Others focus on bringing commercial thinking to artists or monetization knowhow to bloggers.  Personal development is key focus whose articles include dos and don'ts of interviewing, school selection and admission strategies, and how to get the most out of one's college experience.

Some of the content is available is both English and Persian while some are published in either one of the two languages.  The translation challenge is not trivial, but one that the founders believe needs to be tackled expertly in order to provide a nuanced understanding of market economies and the opportunities and successes they can provide.  Farsi lacks an equivalent word for entrepreneur and entrepreneurship- the closest word used by business professionals and academics is kar afrarinan, which means employment creators.  To convey three key elements of risk, innovation and private domain inherent in entrepreneurship, the founders coined the term forsat sazan, which means opportunity makers.  Forsat, meaning opportunity, was chosen for the site name. 

In the words of Afshin Molavi, a prominent author and fellow at the New America Foundation, a non-partisan public policy think tank in Washington, D.C., "Forsat.org is --  in the great tradition of successful movements and organizations - a powerful idea whose time has come. Now, more than ever, Iranians need independent, cutting edge organizations to help unleash their natural talents and compete in an increasingly flat world.  Forsat.org's simple, noble goal -- promoting the economic dignity of all Iranians through the dissemination of ideas and the promotion of entrepreneurship - should be lauded by all who care about the fate of Iran and Iranians."

Forsat.org provides the communication infrastructure and philanthropic platform to fulfill the desire of young professionals to give back to their counterparts around the world.  Forsat.org nurtures a network of "beautiful minds" consisting of professionals, journalists and students who share their world class expertise via article submissions.  Alaleh Azarkhish, an Iranian-American attorney living and practicing in the Bay Area says she invests her time into this well-run organization because she believes that the "...sustained long-term impacts of engaging the youth is much more effective than the quick-fix approach taken by many other non-profits.  I invite others committed to intellectual philanthropy to consider joining Forsat.org's network."

For more information on Forsat.org and how to get involved, visit www.forsat.org or email info@forsat.org.