Along with Angelina Jolie and Bono Clint Borgen is one of the most recognisable figures to be involved with the United Nations (U.N) and humanitarian work.

Former firefighter Clint started his relief work when he was 21-year-old and risked his life by traveling to Kosovan relief camps during the horrific war and ethnic cleaning.

He then worked with the U.N. in Europe and visited poverty-stricken countries around the world, quickly becoming a leading figure in global poverty problems. His harrowing experiences - from his harrowing time at the relief camps to his lighter time being stuck in a European red-light district for three months - were recalled in his acclaimed autobiography, "Geneva Nights". The book, which was published while he was still at college, thrusted Clint into the public eye and established him as both a poverty and foreign policy expert that was frequently invited to make appearances on talk shows.

After leaving college he set-up the Borgen Project in early 2004, the main function of which was, and still is, to put pressure on politicians to take steps to end poverty. The organisation quickly built-up widespread support from the public and became a major force in the fight against poverty.

Clint and his Borgen Project are currently working to ensure that American leaders stick to their plans to help bring over a million people out of poverty over the next two decades, which they agreed to as part of the Millennium Development Project.

He says the goals are: “The greatest opportunity in the history of humankind. It’s been possible to end world hunger since the 1970’s, but the Millennium Goals are huge because every nation on earth got together and said “let’s do it.” And we can now do it for a fraction of the effort required back in the 1970’s.

“Having every world leader agree to anything is in itself a beautiful moment, but when they’re agreeing to end hunger and severe poverty by a certain date that’s an unreal opportunity.”

But he’s described Congress and the White House as the biggest obstacles stopping the goals from being achieved: “They’re the world’s agenda-setter and the Millennium Goals are nowhere near the agenda.”

Adding: “I don’t think anyone in this country truly believes Congress and the White House are doing everything in their power to end poverty. When you look at the data on how little is needed to address the issue and compare it to current political priorities it paints an ugly picture.

Clint currently lives in Seattle but jets all over the world in his quest to end global poverty.