Our Initiatives

What's it about?

Realizing the rights of young people to participation and information, and amplifying their voices through digital tools.

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What's it about?

Examining the opportunities and risks for young people’s rights that stem from their use of digital tools and social media.

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What's it about?

Empowering young people to investigate community challenges through innovative digital mapping tools.

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Yesterday was the official launch of a version of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples written specifically for the use of indigenous adolescents. It is an encouragement for them to know their rights and those of their community. You can find it here: http://www.unicef.org/policyanalysis/rights/files/HRBAP_UN_Rights_Indig_Peoples.pdf “It is so much more youth-friendly, because it is visual, didactic and contextual. When I first read the regu...


World Press Freedom Day

Posted May 23, 2013 no picture ka1081

no picture ka1081 View Profile
Member since May 23, 2013
  • 1 Post

"Today is World Press Freedom Day - a special day when the world observes the right to freedom of expression of all people. This year there is a special focus on social media and raising awareness that your right to freedom of expression extends to the social media platforms that you use. If you want to learn more about the day and how you can get involved, visit:http://bitly.com/keepsocialmediafree. Also, check out this video which shows how social media can be a powerful tool for...


A Tablet Computer for Africa by Africans

Posted May 23, 2013 Avatar

Member since February 12, 2013
  • 7 Posts

What do you do when you would like to have a smartphone or tablet, but cannot afford Apple or Samsung products? Well, you just create your own gadget.This is what Verone Mankou, a 27 year old Congolose entrepreneur did last year. Verone is known as the man who created Africa’s first tablet, the Way-C. His home country, the Republic of Congo, is considered as one of the most difficult places in the world to do business, but that did not stop Verone from creating his own tech sta...


Welcome Buenos Aires

Posted May 22, 2013 Avatar Zayn

Member since March 27, 2013
  • 16 Posts

After the wonderful work and local impact of Voices of Youth Maps in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the initiative is embarking to Buenos Aires, Argentina. UNICEF Argentina is partnering with TECHO the leading South and Central American community development NGO focusing on reducing poverty in urban slums through community participation and advocacy. The development of the Voices of Youth Maps mobile application will allow youth mappers to directly participate...


The Rio Experience

Posted May 22, 2013 Avatar Zayn

Member since March 27, 2013
  • 16 Posts

The Voices of Youth Maps project runs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil since 2011 and is still having a large positive impact on the “mapped” communities. The themes explored included sanitation and accumulation of garbage. This video is a recap of the two-year project in 11 Favelas in Rio. The mapping project in Brazil will now participate in the Safe and Sustainable Cities initiative (UN Habitat & UN Women) focusing on theme of violence against women and girls.


Violence in High Schools in the United States

Posted May 22, 2013 Avatar Zayn

Member since March 27, 2013
  • 16 Posts

Unlike various countries in Africa, the United States hasn’t really suffered any civil war in the last century. Given our technological efficiencies, and social services, there is no reason for this country to be considered unsafe. In many countries in Africa, one of the many general fears is a potential rape that could occur at any second of a woman’s life, often schools are looked upon as a safe haven. Although the United States is supposed to be “safe” many young people...


New Countries, New Projects

Posted May 22, 2013 Avatar Zayn

Member since March 27, 2013
  • 16 Posts

We are very proud to welcome two new countries to the Voices of Youth Connect team: South Africa and Zambia. In South Africa, the Young Reporters Network has been working in different provinces implementating radio programs in youth clubs and partnering with local radio stations allowing youth participants to investigate local issues and to initiate a dialogue within the community to address these issues. Voices of Youth Connect will join this wonderful initiative by providin...


Are you addicted to the Internet?

Posted May 22, 2013 no picture KateVOY

no picture KateVOY View Profile
Member since February 5, 2013
  • 26 Posts

Has anyone ever told you that you’re addicted to the internet? Would you qualify as an ‘excessive user’? A recent report from EU Kids Online unpacks the issue of excessive use of the internet by children in the European Union. It shows that while almost a third of children show at least one of the signs of excessive use, only 1 % fell into the most extreme category. You can read the full report here: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/research/EUKidsOnline/EU%20Kids%20III/Report...


A space for discovery and exchange of ideas

Posted May 22, 2013 Avatar Zayn

Member since March 27, 2013
  • 16 Posts

When young people from Ethiopia ask their peers in Liberia “What are you proud of”, this is their answer: “ We are proud to have access to internet program and to communicate with students in and around the world because it helps us to have computer skills”. Youth participants have voiced their opinions, shared photos of their communities, and asked questions on Voices of Youth Connect forums because they always want to know more about how their peers in other regions and a...


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