youth empowerment with social media
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was prepared for the No to Knives and Crime Coalition symposium in London, UK, 7 July 2009 - it includes case studies and some guidelines for creating strategies that leverage social media to empower youth to participate in shaping their lives and communities.TRANSCRIPT
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
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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
NetSquared.org
SexInfoWho’s involved?
• Advisory Board with members representing the San Francisco area (City of SF, churches, universities,
charities, etc.)
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SexInfoHow did it start?
• Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS-Inc.) + San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH)
+ HipCricket Inc
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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
Remixing the web for social change
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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
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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
NetSquared.org
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
NetSquared.org
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
NetSquared.org
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
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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