Make a Connection on Camera, jointly developed by Fundacion Vamos and Nokia Mexico, is a program designed to teach documentary film-making to Mexican youth from 20 communities. Participants in the program will also receive special training aimed at reinforcing values and emotional skills important for their personal development, including leadership, perseverance, camaraderie, respect, and tolerance.
The program has been developed in collaboration with Mexico's Training Center for Educative Television, CETE (Centro de Entrenamiento de Televisión Educativa) where the young people receive practical training in producing programs for local television. During the first year of the project, 720 families are expected to be involved.
"Make a Connection on Camera is an unusual multimedia project giving young people in Mexican communities the opportunity to express themselves on film," says Bernardo Barranco, Executive Director of Fundacion Vamos. "In learning to give voice to their opinions through multimedia channels such as television or the Internet, the broader objective of the program goes beyond self-expression and practical knowledge, enabling young people to develop life skills that will reflect back into their communities."
Make a Connection on Camera is part of the global Make a Connection program, an initiative by Nokia and the International Youth Foundation.
About Make a Connection, Fundación Vamos and Nokia
Make a Connection is a global, multi-year partnership between Nokia and the International Youth Foundation to promote positive youth development by giving young people an opportunity to "make a connection' to their communities, to their families and peers, and to themselves. The program improves young people's educational opportunities, teaches them life skills, and helps them make a positive contribution to their societies. During the first year, programs were also launched in China, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, and the UK.
Fundacion Vamos, the Mexican partner of the International Youth Foundation, is a civil foundation, created in 1996 by 60 leaders from a non-governmental organization with more than 30 years of experience in social development. After five years in operation they have already supported more than 140 projects in Mexico. Their mission is to support initiatives to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged groups.
Nokia is committed to having a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products and services the company creates. Through its partnership with IYF and other regional philanthropic and social responsibility programs, the company prepares young people to embrace opportunities and possibilities created by the global economy and new technological advancements. The company has been an active regional contributor to youth and education causes for many years, with Nokia employees making their own contributions as volunteers in a range of programs throughout the world.
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Tel. +358 7180 34459
www.nokia.com/makeaconnection
Kandu Tapia
Corporate Communications Manager,
Nokia Mexico
Tel. +525 261 7235
Fax +525 261 7299
Email kandu.tapia@nokia.com