Nokia and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) signed a US$6.3 million agreement today to continue their global Make A Connection program over the next three years, and to expand this youth-development initiative to Poland.
"Helping young people create their own place in the world is a natural outgrowth of Nokia's vision and values," says Nokia's chairman and CEO, Jorma Ollila. "Extending the Make a Connection program into Poland is one new way to give young people an opportunity to make a difference in their own lives and their communities."
Nokia, IYF and the Polish Children and Youth Foundation, IYF's partner organization in Poland, will work together to bring Make a Connection to Poland - the first in a new series of countries to join the program. Young people in three Polish provinces will receive training to develop life skills through a variety of guided volunteer initiatives.
Launched in April 2000, Make a Connection has already been established in six countries: Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, South Africa and the U.K. The program draws on the expertise of IYF, one of the largest public foundations in the world focused on young people. IYF has developed a global network of partner organizations in 34 countries who develop and support effective youth programs, and who are recognized as leaders in positive youth development.
"We are thrilled to work in such close partnership with Nokia in connecting young people worldwide,' says Rick Little, IYF's founder and president. "We appreciate the active role that Nokia has taken in helping to select and implement programs that enable young people to succeed in today's global society. This new grant will enable us to have an even greater impact on young lives.'
About Make a Connection, Nokia and IYF
Make a Connection is a global, multi-year partnership 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.
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.
Founded in 1990, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) is a non-profit, global organization dedicated to supporting programs that improve the conditions and prospects of young people where they live, learn, work and play. IYF helps bring worldwide support to the many exceptional local efforts that are changing young lives by drawing on the expertise of a worldwide network of partners. Now operating in over 60 countries, IYF and its partners have helped more than 20 million young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. IYF is devoted to building in-depth strategic partnerships among the business, public, and civil society sectors.
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Tel: 358 7180 34459
www.nokia.com/makeaconnection
Kimmo Lipponen, Director, Corporate Marketing
Tel: +1 972 894 6286
Fax: +1 972 894 6607
kimmo.lipponen@nokia.com
International Youth Foundation (IYF)
Karen Diakun, Vice President, Communications
Tel: +1 410 951 2328
Fax: +1 410 347 1188
kdiakun@iyfnet.org
www.iyfnet.org