Go to web site: http://www.gyf.ca   Download Success Story "If youth are to fully participate as engaged and valued members of civil society then we must commit ourselves to their sustained education and awareness of global issues. This is why the GYF online community is an essential tool that maximizes the learning potential for students." Sarah Loewen, International Supervisor, Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA

The Community

The Global Youth Forum (GYF) is a one day conference for 100 high school students who are interested in international issues. Students participate in workshops, games and activities all geared toward involving them in global issues. The purpose of the event is to expose students to global issues and present different ways they can become involved in "making the world a better place," both at home and abroad.

The Challenge

To achieve their goals for the event, conference organizers needed to meet two objectives: to coordinate the event in a streamlined manner; and to engage high school students–an historically passive audience–in a familiar environment using their own language.

With any conference, information changes rapidly and frequently in the weeks preceding the event. For this reason, event information needed to be collected in a centralized location where it could be easily accessed and updated. Ideally, students should be given access to this information, as well as organizers, teachers and presenters, in order to plan ahead logistically for the conference. Organizers not only wanted to be able to connect with presenters and students before the conference; they also wanted to enable students to connect with their peers to encourage open dialogue and generate interest in the event.

The Solution

A Global Youth Forum community provides organizers with a centralized communications tool and helps students maximize their involvement by creating a web presence that is familiar, engaging and informational.

With both public and private aspects, the self service nature of the GYF community permits accessibility to all of its members. Presenters can post their own materials, presentations, biographies, teasers and background information. Organizers have access to an administration area that requires minimal technical knowledge, where they can easily update conference details, upload documents and respond to participant questions. Students can access event information and each other well before the event takes place.

The GYF community ensures that all participants get the most up to date conference information so that they can arrive prepared for the event. From previewing presentations to connecting with other participants ahead of time, the community not only keeps students informed, but also builds interest and improves focus on the day of the event.

Use of an online community provides the GYF with a tangible web presence. Students can easily find their way around the website and use its tools with precision. By using a web 2.0-based medium that students are familiar with, event organizers and teachers have created a credible resource that has longevity. Because it complements other social networks, students can access the GYF community throughout their academic careers and stay involved by building and contributing to an interconnected knowledge network of students interested in global issues.