Polish Children and Youth Foundation and Nokia have launched the second year of the youth program "Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!". Young volunteers from three Polish provinces will continue to implement their own projects to benefit local communities. The second year will be completed in March 2003.
"Make a connection - Przylacz sie!" is an initiative of the Polish Children and Youth Foundation and Nokia and part of the Make a Connection program, a global initiative of the International Youth Foundation and Nokia. The program targets young people aged between 16 to 22 from three Polish provinces - Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Malopolskie and Slaskie. Through this program young volunteers implement their own projects by helping others in their communities. This allows them to expand their life and social skills and make a positive contribution to their communities.
Fifteen projects from each province will be selected for the second year of "Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!" in a competition announced today. The majority of the groups who have already been involved in the program's first year have indicated a desire to participate again in the second one. "A year of work in the region is long enough to show measurable results of the program," said Maria Holzer, Director of the Polish Children and Youth Foundation. "In order to have even bigger benefits for local communities through long-term activities, we have decided to give another chance to those groups which already participated in 'Make a Connetion - Przy³¹cz siê!' last year. All projects, however, will be judged by their creativity, and the best ones will receive the grants".
Each selected group will receive a grant of between EUR 540 and EUR 1,620 to implement their projects. Activities must be planned and implemented by the young people themselves, with each participating group consisting of at least 8 people aged between 16 to 22. The activities should begin after 1 July 2002 and finish no later than 31 March 2003. The winning projects will be announced on 21 June 2002.
The first year of the program ran from July 2001 to the end of April 2002, with 47 projects. They represented a variety of successful initiatives and were designed by local youth organizations as well as informal school groups and leisure youth clubs.
"We are very pleased with the results of the groups' work from the first year. The young volunteers have become self-confident and now know that they can do their part to change the world around them for the better," said Mariusz Kosiñski, General Manager, Nokia Networks Poland. "We are happy that thanks to "Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!" Nokia can have an impact on their development".
About "Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!"
"Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!" targets young people aged between 16 and 22 years who may find themselves facing unemployment. As volunteers in the program, they will receive training in the areas of project management, budget planning, financial settlements, teamwork skills and public relations. "Make a Connection - Przylacz sie!" will run for an initial three years. The program is part of the global Make a Connection initiative.
Make a Connection is a partnership between the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia 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 to make a positive contribution to their societies. Country programs are currently running in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
www.makeaconnection.pl
www.makeaconnection.org
About PCYF
The Polish Children and Youth Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in May 1992 with the support of the International Youth Foundation. Funding for the Foundation comes from donations and grants from institutions and private persons. The aim of PCYF's operations is the comprehensive development of children and youth from five to 20 years old. The Foundation is helping a generation of young people to become creative and responsible as they shape their own lives and local communities. During the nine years of PCYF's operations, it has helped 500 organizations working for children and youth. The foundation reaches the most remote parts of the country with its aid. Since September 1992 until the end of 2000 it made 1,150 donations totaling 12,219,200 PLN, helping over three million children and youth.
www.pcyf.org.pl
About Nokia
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.
www.nokia.com.pl
About International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is one of the world's largest public foundations focused on children and youth. IYF is dedicated to supporting programs that improve the conditions and prospects for young people where they live, learn, work, and play. Since its founding in 1990, IYF has worked with hundreds of companies, foundations, and nongovernmental organisations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic partnerships. Currently operating in more than 60 countries, IYF and its partners have helped more than 23 million young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success.
www.iyfnet.org
Further information:
Arkadiusz Brzezinski
Polska Fundacja Dzieci i Mlodziezy
tel. (+ 48 22) 826 44 73, 826 44 74, fax. (+ 48 22) 826 43 23
e-mail: a.brzezinski@pcyf.org.pl
Emilia Zagórska
Nokia Poland
tel. (+48 22) 821 82 33
fax (+48 22) 821 82 97
e-mail: ext-emilia.zagorska@nokia.com
Monika Perek
Mmd Public Relations
tel. (+ 48 22) 875 07 92 w.106
fax. (+ 48 22) 825 27 68
e-mail: mperek@mmd.com.pl