Nokia and the Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje obcanské spolecnosti - NROS) announced at a press conference today 73 winning projects for the second year of the three-year Make a Connection program in the Czech Republic. The awarded projects will receive grants totaling close to CZK 2 million (USD 60,000).
Under the program, volunteers ranging from 16 to 24 years of age will be able to implement their own community projects that will benefit their own neighbourhoods. In addition to a monetary grant project participants will also be entitled to several days of project management training.
Winning projects focus on various areas of activity ranging from the renovation of historical monuments and amateur theater to environmental education and drug prevention programs. A total 156 projects were registered, compared with 126 projects in the first year, indicating increased awareness among young people of the importance of volunteering.
"We are thrilled by the response of young people to this program," says Jukka Pietarinen, Managing Director of Nokia Czech Republic. "This is evidence that young people are not indifferent to the world around them and that they really want to make a contribution."
Hana Silhanová, Director of the Civic Society Development Foundation, adds: "We are greatly encouraged by the success of the program so far, in that we have been able to offer young people an interesting, fun and informative way to find self-fulfilment, at the same time contributing to a revitalisation of the tradition of volunteering in a natural way."
About Make a Connection in the Czech Republic
Make a Connection, the joint program of the Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje obcanské spolecnosti - NROS) and Nokia, was launched in the Czech Republic in April 2002. It takes place in five regions of the Czech Republic. The Civic Society Development Foundation is responsible for the overall organisation and coordination of the program; at the regional level, the implementing role was entrusted to the following non-profit organisations: Hurá Kamarád in the Pardubice region, VITA in the Moravia-Silesia region, Ratolest in the South Moravia region, Dobrovolnické centrum in the Ústí nad Labem region, and Hestia - Národní dobrovolnické centrum in Prague. The sixth partner is the Tereza Maxová Foundation, which implements the program at children's homes all over the country. Actress and singer Zuzana Norisová remains the program's patron also for the second year. More information on Make a Connection in the Czech Republic can be found at www.makeaconnection.cz
About the global Make a Connection program
Make a Connection is a global initiative of 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 make a positive contribution to their societies. Country programs are currently running in Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom. More information on Make a Connection can be found at www.makeaconnection.org.
Make a Connection is a global initiative of 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 make a positive contribution to their societies. Country programs are currently running in Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom. More information on Make a Connection can be found at www.makeaconnection.org.
About the Civic Society Development Foundation
The Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje obcanské spolecnosti - NROS) makes efforts to strengthen the non-profit sector in the Czech Republic through philanthropy and voluntary work and through projects that contribute to the development of a civic society and European integration. The foundation supports non-profit organisations that work with vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, defend human rights, democratic values, tolerance and respect of minority rights, or otherwise increase awareness on such issues among fellow citizens. One of the Foundation's target groups is children and young people. Thanks to the experience with a number of projects aimed at children and young people, the Civic Society Development Foundation has the needed know-how and qualification for successful implementation of Make a Connection in the Czech Republic in co-operation with the International Youth Foundation and Nokia. More information on NROS can be found at www.nros.cz.
About International Youth Foundation (IYF)
The International Youth Foundation 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 organizations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic initiatives. Currently operating in nearly 50 countries and territories, IYF and its sister organizations have helped more than 26 million young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. More information on IYF can be found at www.iyfnet.org.
The International Youth Foundation 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 organizations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic initiatives. Currently operating in nearly 50 countries and territories, IYF and its sister organizations have helped more than 26 million young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. More information on IYF can be found at www.iyfnet.org.
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 cooperation with IYF and through 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. More information on Nokia can be found at www.nokia.com.
For further information:
NROS, Lenka Naceradská, +420 2 333 561 73, lenka.naceradska@nros.cz
Nokia, Larisa Francírková, +420 602 120 339, larisa.francirkova@nokia.com
Mmd, Hana Kucerová, +420 2 24251555, kucerova@mmd.cz
www.nokia.com