youth empowerment with social media

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

Amy Sample Ward

Global Community Builder, NetSquared.orgFacilitator & Blogger, AmySampleWard.org

The Future Today:Social media empowering youth

to shape the future today

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

Agenda:

Case Studies:

• SexInfoSF

• YouthForce

• TheSite.org

Lessons Learned:

• Audience

• Goals

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

Case Study #1

SexInfoSF

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SexInfoSF

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UkTQv5MZFU

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

SexInfoWhat is it?

• SMS based information system, targeted at youth in San Francisco aged 12-17 for sexual health resources

Remixing the web for social change

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SexInfoWhy is it needed?

• Gonorrhea up 100%+ 85% owned a mobile phone

Remixing the web for social change

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SexInfoWho’s involved?

• Advisory Board with members representing the San Francisco area (City of SF, churches, universities,

charities, etc.)

Remixing the web for social change

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SexInfoHow did it start?

• Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS-Inc.) + San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH)

+ HipCricket Inc

Remixing the web for social change

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SexInfoAre there similar projects?

• Youthnet.org (UK) operates a similar service for sexual information via SMS; option for post code-specific services

Remixing the web for social change

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Case Study #2

YouthForce – World AIDS Day

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YouthForce

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3V1mVXm2bo

Remixing the web for social change

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YouthForce

What is it?

• coalition of youth‐led and/or youth‐serving

HIV/AIDS organizations who are working to empower

young delegates and promote youth participation

around HIV/AIDS before, during and after the International AIDS

Conference

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YouthForce

Why is it needed?

• IAC 2000 (Durban) only 50 young people participated

in a conference of thousands

• IAC 2002 (Barcelona) YouthForce coordinated a

visibility campaign, “Where are the youth?”

Remixing the web for social change

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YouthForce

Who’s involved?

• Advocates for Youth and Family Health International

• 40+ organizations including youth coalitions,

student groups, health charities and more

Remixing the web for social change

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YouthForce

How did it start?

• Advocates for Youth and Family Health International

+ over 40 organizations

• Visibility

• Participation

• Discourse

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YouthForce

Are there similar projects?

• Chain Reaction (UK) focuses on the premise that only when working together can we succeed in changing

the world (and youth are integral to the event and

the work)

Remixing the web for social change

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Case Study #3

YouthNet – TheSite.org

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YouthNet – TheSite.org

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLcCuhp8Dlw

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

YouthNet – TheSite.orgWhat is it?

• provides online support and guidance to young people aged 16-24 in the UK

Remixing the web for social change

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YouthNet – TheSite.orgWhy is it needed?

• “young people have the capacity to make their own decisions &life choices, provided they have access to high

quality, impartial information and advice”

Remixing the web for social change

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YouthNet – TheSite.orgWho’s involved?

• YouthNet – the UK’s first exclusively online charity

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YouthNet – TheSite.orgHow did it start?

• TheSite.orgdo-it.org.uk

Lifetracks Consortium

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YouthNet – TheSite.orgAre there similar projects?

• Do Something

•Taking It Global

• Youth Noise

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Lessons Learned

Audience

• who is the audience?

• where does the audience go?

• what does the audience want?

• how does the audience talk

• how does the audience want to be involved?

Remixing the web for social change

NetSquared.org

Audience

Who is the audience?

Flickr: kamshots

Remixing the web for social change

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Audience

Where does the audience go?

Flickr: tuexperto_com

Remixing the web for social change

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Audience

What does the audience want to do?

Flickr: cambodia4kidsorg

Remixing the web for social change

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Audience

How does the audience talk?

Flickr: nicolasnova

Remixing the web for social change

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Audience

How does the audience want to be involved?

Remixing the web for social change

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Lessons Learned

Goals

• do they match the vision?

• do they empower the audience?

• do the tools help achieve the goals?

• are they measureable?

Remixing the web for social change

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Goals

Do they match the vision?

Flickr: theycallmetelly

Remixing the web for social change

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Goals

Do they empower the audience?

Flickr: sfllaw

Remixing the web for social change

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Goals

Do the tools help achieve the goals?

Flickr: nswlearnscope

Remixing the web for social change

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Goals

Are they measureable?

Flickr: aussiegall

Remixing the web for social change

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Learn more:

Case Studies:

• SexInfoSF – www.sextextsf.org

• YouthForce – www.youthaids2008.org/en/

• TheSite.org - www.youthnet.org

Social Media for Social Benefit:

• AmySampleWard.org

• NTEN.org & NetSquared.org