Making The World A Better Place

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

==============================================================
This message is forwarded to several lists.  Please feel free
to redistribute and excuse any duplication.        Thank you.
==============================================================


Greetings Fellow Networkers,


We are a group of seventh grade students from Edmonds, Washington, USA
who are concerned about the world.  We are developing a creative problem
solving program called the World Connections Fair (WCF) that is designed
to encourage and empower kids to be actively involved in making the world
a better place.


We would like to give kids an incentive to be socially active in their
communities, so we have created a contest and the prize is a trip to
Disneyland.


What do you think?  Will kids want to get involved?  We would like your
comments on our project and suggestions to help us bring it about.  We
would especially welcome tips on building a coalition of supporters.


Our goal is to be financially self-supporting by holding celebrity benefit
concerts.  To stage the annual World Connections Fair, the celebrity
concerts and conduct the contest will require assistance in many fields
including telecommunications, public relations, the entertainment industry,
build a coilation of support and organizing for social action.


We want to establish our group on a solid foundation and any advise or
guidance would be greatly appreciated.  If you, or someone you know,
would be interested in helping get kids involved, join us by sending a
message to:  dkays () guest nwnet net.


We want kids to know they can make a difference.  And you can make a
difference too.  Please help us make the world a better place.


Thank you.


======================================================================


                        The World Connections Fair




is an annual creative problem solving program designed to encourage youth,
ages 10 to 15, to be actively involved in making the world a better place.




Program Goals
=============
*  To encourage and empower youth to really have an impact in making this
   world a better place.
*  To promote greater understanding and acceptance between the world's
   diverse cultures.
*  To promote creative solutions to the world's problems.
*  To promote cooperative creative problem solving and teamwork.
*  To promote computer literacy and the knowledge and use of multi-media
   technology.


Program Overview
================
Kids often feel that the world is all mixed up, but feel helpless to do
anything about it.  They can see answers to some of the world's most
pressing problems, but wonder who would ever listen to them.  The World
Connections Network (WCN) would like them to know that they have the power
to make the world a better place.  This program is designed to help kids
transform their creative thinking into actions that make a difference in
their world.  It will help them learn the skills they need to solve the
social problems they choose.


As an incentive to be socially active in their communities, the WCN
sponsors the World Connections Fair creative problem solving contest and
the prize is a trip to Disneyland.


In classrooms, youth organizations, church groups or just a few friends,
kids work in teams of four or more with adult advisors.  Together they
think about all the problems with the world - in their communities,
country or anywhere.  The team reviews the list of Project Focus Categories
and chooses one.  Now they learn how to change their world.  With help and
advise from their advisors and the World Connections Network, they plan and
conduct their project.


Afterwards, they prepare a project presentation, using any medium they
choose, and submit it to the World Connections Fair selections team.  Two
teams will be selected worldwide to participate in the Fair from each
Project Focus Category.  Travel arrangements to the Fair will be provided
for four members chosen to be their team's Ambassadors to the Fair.


The World Connections Fair takes place the last week of May in southern
California, USA.  Ambassadors and their advisors stay four nights at the
Disneyland Hotel, participate in the World Connections Fair, attend the
World Connections Fair Celebrity Benefit Concert, visit Disneyland and
Universal Studios.


The two teams selected from each Project Focus Category will share their
experience with each other, communicating by telephone, mail or e-mail via
the Internet computer network.  When possible or appropriate, Ambassadors are
encouraged to come to the Fair dressed in costumes native to their
community/country, and to bring smallsouvenirs to trade with other Fair
participants.


Each Ambassador must send a letter or e-mail message to the World
Connections Network stating if they imagine a picture of hope or doom for
the future, and an idea for a future invention or a way of using recycled
materials that will help make this world a better place.


The shape of the world is in their hands.  Whether they're concerned about
being responsible consumers, protecting endangered animals, feeding hungry
people or stopping the violence in their communities, kids do have the
power to change the world.  They can make a difference.




Project Focus Categories
====================


1.  Public Health & Safety
        a.      nutrition and hunger
        b.      childhood immunization
        c.      health care
        d.      substance abuse - alcohol, drugs, smoking
        e.      serious diseases awareness
        f.      teenage pregnancy
        g.      teenage suicide prevention
        h.      child abuse - verbal, physical, sexual
        i.      violence in our communities
        j.      natural disaster preparedness - storms,
                earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.


2.  Social
        a.      cultural diversity awareness
        b.      homelessness
        c.      differently-abled awareness
        e.      support systems for children, the
                elderly and/or the family
        f.      gender, race or cultural bias in education
        g.      socially responsible consumer awareness
        h.      human rights


3.  Education, Science and Technology
        a.      literacy
        b.      computer and network proficiency
        c.      innovative ideas in education
        d.      enhancing math & science education
        e.      multi-media technology


4.  Environment
        a.      pollution prevention and control
        b.      energy and water conservation
        c.      environmental clean-up
        d.      animal protection
        e.      ecosystem protection
        f.      environment vs. development issues
        g.      development of environmentally
                friendly products


5.  The Arts
        a.      enhancing the arts in school - visual
        b.      enhancing the arts in school - performing
        c.      enhancing the arts in the community -  visual
        d.      enhancing the arts in the community -  performing




The World Connections Fair (WCF) is an annual creative problem solving
program sponsored by the World Connections Network (WCN), a non-profit,
tax-exempt organization.




For more information:
====================
about the World Connections Fair, the World Connections Network, or if you
want to help out or participate, write to:


Kathy McNulty                           The World Connections Network
Project Director                        21610 52nd Ave W
                                        Mountlake Terrace, WA  98043
(206) 771-3928
Internet:  dkays () guest nwnet net        "celebrate the world's diversity"
=========================================================================


                        +++++end of message+++++