In 2005, three winning teams and six runners-up had been selected from over 300 applications hailing from 70+ United Nations member states.
Categories in 2005 have been:
Development
Rewards the best online platform for youth centered around issues of poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, social justice, health or peace.
Creativity and Culture
Celebrates the most innovative online platform highlighting young people’s potential for producing creative content, promoting multilingualism, creating new contemporary forms of culture and preserving indigenous knowledge and traditional culture.
Community Engagement
Showcases the most engaging online platform facilitating young people’s participation in global, national or local decision-making processes and sharing news/ideas to empower youth and build community.
From over 300 applicants hailing from more than 70 countries, the top three projects in each WSYA category – Development, Creativity & Culture and Community Engagement – have been selected by an international jury of 15 experts in the fields of youth engagement, new media, and social entrepreneurship.
And the winners are;
Best e-Content on COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Vibewire
Commonwealth of Australia
By Tom Dawkins, National Coordinator of Vibewire Youth Services Inc
Tom Dawkins’ Vibewire.net won the category with an interactive youth community of blogs, discussions forums, articles and resources for the youth of Australia. “It’s an honor to join such an inspiring group of young entrepreneurs who are using technology for social change,” said Tom.
Product Info: Vibewire.net is a platform where 15-30-year-old writers, artists, activists and culture makers can find a voice, interact and communicate with like- (and unlike-) minded people. Members upload their articles for publication and comment on the work of others. Onsite message boards and blogs foster further opportunities for them to express themselves and participate in discussions about the issues and ideas which matter to them – whether these are of a global, local or personal nature. In 3 years we’ve published over 3,000 articles. Vibewire.net is designed to be the most inclusive online forum for Australia’s youth – a community where young people access resources, engage in cultural and political discourse, and empower themselves through expression opportunities. Vibewire facilitates expression without ever seeking to push a particular point of view, hosting vibrant conversations on the substance of their lives, be it music, film, school, politics, relationships, health, zines or art.
Best e-Content on CREATIVITY & CULTURE
Digital Design School
Republic of Kenya
By Masaka Wilson, Trainer at NairoBits Trust
At 22 years of age, Wilson Masaka Magambo’s Nairobits Digital Design School won the Creativity and Culture category by using digital design training to transform the lives of slum youth in Kenya. “Nairobits Digital Design School has been the vehicle out of poverty, unemployment, and crime in some of the worst areas of Nairobi,” said Wilson. “We hope the WSIS will bring new opportunities for growth and sustainability.”
Product Info: Formed in January 2000, NairoBits was set up to create a media channel for the youth, enabling them to express themselves through the internet. NairoBits aims to create a learning environment that is adaptable and flexible. Besides boosting the youth’s self-confidence through creative learning, NairoBits also aims to raise the living standard of the disadvantaged youth by providing them with IT skills that give them a better chance on the job market.
Best e-Content on DEVELOPMENT
Patent Wars on AIDS Drugs
United States of America
By Ammu Irivinti, International Coordination Team for Patent Battles
The 17-year old winner of the Development category, joined forces with youth from the UK, Netherlands, India, and Australia to create a dynamic, one-stop shop for information on the patent debate around HIV/AIDS drugs. “I discovered a passion for the creative power of the Internet at the age of 8, and ten years later, I find myself showcasing my project on a truly global stage, ” said Ammu.
Product Info: The battle in the field of medical drug research and development is weaponless, yet affects countless. It can be thought of as a conflict of interests: should preference be given to the world’s pharmaceutical giants who wield their monopoly as incentives to produce more, or should countries with high rates of fatal illnesses be allowed to override patent laws to save lives? The global pharmaceutical industry insists that patents provide an incentive to research and produce more drugs. If not for the drug companies’ monopolistic rights, it would not be worthwhile to invest in new treatments. Thus, if these companies do not produce drugs, there will be nothing over which to fight. Drugs produced by these groups are costly. For people in poorer countries to access medications, they must either produce generic drugs or import such drugs from elsewhere. Both options leave them at the mercy of the large pharmaceuticals, who earnestly charge these nations with patent infringement.