World Economic Forum Sleepout AKA THE Great Sleepout
World Economic Forum Sleepout AKA THE Great Sleepout
(Public-Private Cooperation Campaign)
To speed up the process of empowering people out of homelessness and poverty, Homeless Entrepreneur has been giving homeless people a voice (Knowledge) at the World Economic Forum since 2018 by joining lively formal and informal conversations (Recognition) in Davos, building and strengthening its relationships with public and private organizations (Change) and challenging the status quo while sleeping out in -20ºC weather during the entire event.
Our aim is to become an active, accepted community member and partner of this amazing forum, so we can inspire its stakeholders to end global homelessness as we know it by 2050.
Problem(s)
#Unemployment According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), global unemployment rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, with early 2021 projections anticipating around 220 million unemployed people and a rate of 6.3 per cent. However, labour markets recovered faster than expected, and by 2023-2024 the global unemployment rate had fallen to roughly 5 per cent, at or below its pre-pandemic level. The ILO projects it will remain near this level in 2025-2026, although significant challenges persist, including youth unemployment, informality, and regional disparities.
#Homelessness According to UN-Habitat, which has broadened its definition of homelessness, an estimated 2.8 billion people worldwide are affected by inadequate housing, including roughly 318 million who are homeless. More conservative figures found via the World Economic Forum suggest 150 million homeless people. Around 15 million people are estimated to be forcibly evicted each year. Homelessness has risen in many countries over the past decade, driven by rising housing costs, conflict, displacement, climate-related disasters, and inequality. Young people are among the groups at the highest risk in many countries, alongside women fleeing violence, migrants, and people with disabilities.
Solution
We, too, believe deliberate conversations on the future are the best solution to reduce homelessness via work and active citizenship.
Opportunity
Homeless Entrepreneur will be giving people experiencing homelessness and at risk a voice at the World Economic Forum (WEF) for the 9th straight year by participating actively and proving that our organization, beneficiaries and stakeholders deserve to be listened to, respected and included in the Davos Agenda and embraced by the WEF community.
How we do it
We sleep out in Davos during the World Economic Forum and actively participate in this amazing event within the opportunities that are presented:
1) Awareness Sleepout: 4 nights with “Under The Stars” late night conversations!
2) Challenging Status Quo: Communicating with WEF stakeholders participating in #WEF27 (online and offline) to inspire action to empower people made of potential out of homelessness.
3) 150 Steps in Solidarity with Homeless Community: Walk 150 steps with us (45 seconds) and explain how you can empower people out of homelessness with Homeless Entrepreneur like Christine Lagarde at WEF26.
4) DJ in Davos: Fundraiser with Haskell Music. Venue TBD.
5) Clear Proposal: Homeless Entrepreneur will present a clear proposal to the WEF and its partners, which aims to end homelessness as we know it by 2050 thanks to Public-Private-Civic Cooperation.
Location & Dates
Davos, Switzerland: January 18-21, 2027
Donate & Empower People out of Homelessness with us!
Homeless Entrepreneur Sculpture Gives 150 million homeless people at the World Economic Forum
We carefully select the people who attend the inauguration, which will be held by the mayor of Davos, Philipp Wilhelm and organized by Climate Hub Davos, of our sculpture, created by Veronica de Nogales, due to space limitations during the first day of The Annual Meeting 2025 of The World Economic Forum.
The “UnForSeen Variable” sculpture, which is life-size, has been created by international artist, Veronica de Nogales, in collaboration with Homeless Entrepreneur to raise awareness on global precarity and climate change to create positive social impact.
Watch our first TV report!
Press
Please click on image below to see related press.
If you’re a journalist, communication professional or represent an organization that would like to cover our World Economic Forum Sleepout, please click on the button below and write us!
Please Fill out this Form to Apply for The Great Sleepout!
Donate & Give Homeless People a Voice & Presence at the World Economic Forum in 2027 to ensure that the forum’s theme “Deliberate Conversations on the Future” includes them as active stakeholders.
Imagine sleeping out in -20ºC to defend a cause you believe in…
Imagine conversing with leaders who influence the global economy…
Imagine having the opportunity to give 154 million people living on the street, in temporary dwellings, at refugee camps, and in other transitory and often dangerous conditions a voice and being heard…
Join our sleepout and make it a reality!
Become a Partner/Sponsor!
Please fill out the following form to request an exploratory meeting to discuss the opportunity of being a Great Sleepout Partner/Sponsor for #WEF25!
Maria Cruz was the first Homeless Entrepreneur woman sponsored for THE Great Sleepout in 2024. She is a Peruvian woman living in Barcelona, Spain, who successfully graduated from our HELP program during COVID.
She is currently a digital marketing executive in the hotel industry.
Maria Cruz after receiving an IBM SkillsBuild certificate. (Photo by José Sanabria)