TakingITGlobal

TakingITGlobal (TIG) describes itself as “the world’s first social network for social change.” Created in 1999 in Canada by Jennifer Corriero and Micheal Furdyk, TIG has sought, from the beginning, to harness the power of youth as instruments of social change using technology as a conduit.

Now, with more than 192,000 members in over 200 countries – and partnerships with UNICEF and other development and advocacy organizations – TIG is yielding real results with its innovative approach to social activism.

“There’s a great reception because there’s so much criticism about how there’s a lot of negative things that happen on the web, and we’re one of those kinds of examples of how it can be used as a positive civic space,” says Jennifer.

Yassir El Ouarzadi, 17, is also a firm believer in the Internet as a positive tool for youth empowerment and community action. A high school student living in Canada, he was already an active member of the online global community before working with TIG to start his ‘Highly Poetry’ project – a collective poem co-written online by young people worldwide.

“Nowadays, I think it is very important for young people to create media – online projects, for example – since this is the avenue through which society in general can know and satisfy their needs and help them realize their objectives or start their projects,” Yassir says.

Building piece by piece

At its inception, TIG created a Guide to Action to support and encourage youth to get involved and take action on their inspiration and ideas. The online publication is packed with useful ideas and lessons from dozens of other young members who have encountered and overcome challenges while following their dreams.

The Project Section was established to provide free online spaces where young people can post just about anything they want, from photos to lessons to updates on their own personal social-action projects. There have been more than 2,000 postings in this section of the website alone, and it continues to grow.

As the years passed, more features were added, including monthly themes that give members in-depth background information on pressing global issues, the Global Gallery (an online space for artists to showcase their work) and TIG Groups that allow members to seek out their peers and discuss specific topics. 

The concept of TIG was also distilled down to the national and community levels. The Creating Local Connections programme facilitates networks of active youth leaders and youth-oriented organizations in particular countries or regions, while the TIG’s Open Forums provide a safe and engaging environment where youth can interact face-to-face to discuss issues of concern to their local communities.

A social network for social good

TIG has evolved from a static website into a vibrant, global online community. It is now available in 12 languages and is one of the most engaging social networks for youth around the world.

Members of TIG have also benefited from the awareness they’ve been able to create by sharing their ideas and connecting with others to collaborate on projects. 

“I liaised with another TakingITGlobal member to produce a 30-second TV commercial that was shown on the local community cable TV channel and on YouTube,” says Ginger, a TIG member from Canada. “That commercial drove 10,000 people to our non-profit community event and was the key influence in driving 179,000 hits to the website.”

Meanwhile, a number of non-profit groups, excited at the possibility of online social networking for social good, have approached TIG to help them build websites and develop youth engagement strategies.  

TIG is yet another partner working with UNICEF to spread the message that all members of society, from the youngest to the eldest, have a part to play in our collective advancement and enrichment.

For more information, contact:
Nick Yeo
Development & Communications Manager
TakingITGlobal
19 Duncan Street, Suite 505
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5H 3H1
T: +1 416 977 9363
F: +1 416 352 1898
E: nick@takingitglobal.org
www.takingitglobal.org

Top

'Super Buddies' club and magazine makes life-skills entertaining for children in Swaziland

Until recently, mainstream media in Swaziland offered very little programming designed to educate and empower young people. Five years ago, under the guidance of Swaziland-based media organization Miles Communications, a bi-monthly, youth-produced magazine called 'Super Buddies' was created to fill this gap.

The engaging format of the magazine gives youths the opportunity to view their lives and concerns in a unique way. Entertaining cartoon characters answer important questions on a variety themes affecting young people in Swaziland – from the effects of HIV/AIDS to the violation of children’s rights.

At present, 10,000 copies are printed bi-monthly and distributed to school libraries throughout the country.

“‘Super Buddies’ magazine has taught me so much about myself, about life and young people,” says 19-year-old reader Senzo Mamba from Siphofaneni High School. “In every issue I find advice about all the topics that are dear and important to me as a young person.  I love reading the magazine.”

The UNICEF- and UNESCO-supported magazine was launched in July 2003 following a needs-assessment survey by a non-governmental organization, the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa. The survey found that children needed a platform through which to voice their thoughts and concerns.

The Government of Swaziland has officially endorsed Super Buddies as a communication tool for children.

Super Buddies Club

Based on the success of the initiative, Miles Communication, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education, established the Super Buddies Club in 2007. So far, club branches have been launched in 24 schools and eight communities.

The National Coordinator for the Super Buddies Club, Siphiwe Nkambule, says the magazine proves that media is powerful, but children’s media is even more powerful.

“We started this project mainly to empower young people with information but it has turned into a vibrant organization that is giving children and young people the opportunity to actively participate in issues affecting them, mainly HIV/AIDS and abuse,” says Mr. Nkambule. 

Peer-education and beyond

The Super Buddies Club is a non-profit organization that holds group dialogues in schools and educates young people between the ages of 7 and 18 on life-skills topics such as healthy behavior, HIV/AIDS and child abuse.

Club members engage in peer-education as well as various recreational activities such as drama, dance, poetry and music. They also perform road shows and participate in outreach programmes based on the important skills they have learned.

In December 2007, the Super Buddies Club commemorated World AIDS Day with support from UNICEF. During this day, an international contest gave the young people the opportunity to create their own scripts about HIV. The winning scripts were  produced by African directors into films to further educate people on HIV.

There is a great demand for more Super Buddies Clubs, but financing is a constant challenge. It is hoped that one day the reach of the magazine will be expanded to radio and television programmes, in order to successfully reach more communities and schools with information about issues affecting children today.

For more information, contact:
Siphiwe Nkambule
National coordinator
Super Buddies Club
6th Floor Mbandzeni House
Tel/fax: +268 404 7158
Mobile: +268 615 4342
Email: miles@swazi.net/s.nkambule@yahoo.com

Top

Hellosomaliyouth.net: Erasing Borders in Cyberspace

Hellosomaliyouth.net is the only resource of its kind available for young people in Somalia. The youth-owned, youth-managed website is a platform for Somali young people to discuss issues that concern them and affect their everyday lives.

The idea for Hellosomaliyouth.net was initiated by Somali youth during an assessment conducted in 2005 by UNICEF and its partner, Afri Afya (the African Network for Health Knowledge Management and Communication*), which was exploring ways of working with youth through new and emerging technologies. The website was launched in 2007.

Young people from all regions helped to shape the design and concept of the website. Six of them went on to become the site’s first youth webmasters and are now in the forefront of continuously updating the site.

“The site has very much contributed to our development as young people and our participation in decisions reached in our communities. We receive right and invaluable information from our peers through the site. This information helps us and empowers us to take right decisions,” says Mursal Mohamed, 19, youth webmaster for the site’s Puntland section.

Engaging with other youths online

The Hellosomaliyouth.net homepage features links to news articles on youth development and participation from three zones: Puntland, Somaliland, and Central and Southern Somalia. It contains links to other youth websites, including the UN youth section , the World Bank’s Youthink site and UNICEF’s Voices of Youth, as well as other online news sources.

The sites’ main tool bar includes links to a discussion forum, a news desk, a photo gallery and a special mapping system. Online mapping allows users to view a list of youth groups in the selected region. Its aim is to give youth groups the opportunity to communicate their activities and engage other groups online.

The online forum, moderated by the youth webmasters, features discussions about peace and security, HIV/AIDS, health, education, hygiene and sanitation, child protection and child rights, sports and local news. In 2007, more than 200 discussions were registered.

“The site operates beyond the clan borders that were created by the prolonged civil war, divisions and lack of effective central government for the last 17 years,” says Mursal. “Through this, we interact with young people in other regions of Somalia regardless of their identity and background, discuss areas of concern, copy and duplicate successful lessons.”

The website has also provided an opportunity for youth groups from any corner of Somalia where there is an Internet connection to submit applications for small grants administered through locally identified UNICEF partners.  The small grants are meant for any youth-driven initiatives.

Local partners and communication channels

In addition, local partnerships that have developed in the three zones allow UNICEF to transfer small grants to support the management of the website. These grants enable local partners to meet Internet connection costs, purchase equipment and cover other minimal expenses facilitating the work of the webmasters.

Hellosomaliyouth.net couples with other existing channels – including the ‘KOOR’ youth magazine and a youth radio programme – providing for broader engagement with Somali youth.

There are challenges, however, that keep the site from reaching most of the country’s young people, such as a lack of youth centres with Internet access, limits on the number of Internet users due to exorbitant costs, and perceptions among community elders and parents that the Internet is not useful for children and young people.

The development of Hellosomaliyouth.net is a demonstration on the unique role that youth can play, given the space and support to participate meaningfully.

* AfriAfya is a leading agency in the knowledge management and communication with rural and other marginalized communities.

Top

An interview with social action website member, Yassir El Ouarzadi

Yassir El Ouarzadi, 17, is an active member of the social action website TakingITGlobal (TIG). Here he talks about his work on the website, as well as the importance of media for young people today.

Q. What has it meant for you to be an active member of TIG?
As an active member of TIG, I consider it a wonderful community that connects youth around the world and helps them find inspiration, information and get involved in improving their local and global communities. TakingItGlobal reflects how the Internet is so powerful.

Being an active member of TIG means for me that I am in the right place to realize my ambitions and influence positively people around me, especially young people. I try to raise awareness of topics that I consider crucial – like education, fighting poverty and climate changes – and maybe that way, help motivate people into making a positive change in the community.

Q. How do you see the role of new media for social change?
I firmly believe that mass media must be considered and used as a tool of education. In that way, new media can play an important role in our society. Media can help young people communicate their messages and ideas by creating a global community where youth can express themselves and create opportunities where they start working towards a better world. TIG reflects very well this spirit.
 
Q. Why do you think it's important for young people to create media?
Nowadays, I think it is very important for young people to create media – online projects, for example – since this is the avenue through which society in general can know and satisfy their needs and help them realize their objectives. Media is significant because it reflects what society thinks of itself and this is where influence of the masses becomes truly powerful.

Q. What kind of tools do you think are most useful?
I believe that the most important tools are Internet and TV programmes, since we live now in a world where technology is growing at an outstanding rate. That reality must be used in the right way – by educating people and sensitizing them about global issues like poverty, education and climate change in order to ensure a better future, or at least the same for our children.
 
Q. What kind of media do you think most youth are exposed to today?
Youth are being exposed mostly to TV and Internet. That fact is a double-edged weapon because it has its advantages and a number of inconveniences too. To focus on the advantages, I think that media can empower young people by creating dialogue and debate on issues affecting youth and society in general. This will create opportunities for solutions to the main problems that are facing young people today – especially ensuring primary education for children and fighting poverty, as well as decreasing the bad effects of global warming.
 
Q. What issues do you feel passionate about? Tell us about your dreams.
I am passionate about science, sport, leadership, poetry, literature and other enriching activities. I like to get involved and therefore to make a positive change in society. I believe that youth must realize they are global citizens. I firmly believe that youth as a collective force have the ability to make great positive changes in our society and in the world in general.

Through the TIG networking platform, Yassir started an online education project that promotes poetry as a useful tool for people – helping them learn to communicate their ideas and visions, and improve their writing skills. Yassir would like to become cardiologist and, one day, become involved with Doctors Without Borders.
 
 http://elouarzadi.site.voila.fr/
 http://projects.takingitglobal.org/elouarzadi

Top