Nokia and the Civil Society Development Foundation (NROS) today launched Make a Connection - Pripoj se in the Czech Republic as part of the Make a Connection program, a global initiative of the International Youth Foundation and Nokia.
More than 1,200 young people, aged 16 to 24 years, will design and carry out volunteer projects through Make a Connection - Pripoj se over the next three years. Through grants and training, the program will provide opportunities for participants-mainly students from secondary schools and universities-to make a contribution to their communities, while developing practical life skills through planning and implementing their own projects.
"In our business, we have a vision: enabling people to shape their own mobile world," said Sari Baldauf, President of Nokia Networks. "This vision is reflected in our Corporate Citizenship program, where we encourage young people to create their own place in the world. We want to make our contribution to help young people get started."
Make a Connection - Pripoj se will initially run in five provinces, offering training in areas such as project management, budget planning and fundraising. While NROS is responsible for overall management and coordination, the program will be run in the provinces by Hurá Kamarád in Pardubice, VITA in Ostrava, Ratolest in Brno, Dobrovolnické centrum in Ústí nad Labem, Hestia in Prague and Nadace Terezy Maxove. An estimated 24,000 additional youth and community members will benefit from these volunteer projects.
Hana Silhanová, director of NROS, said: "The Make a Connection program is special in that we are addressing a very wide audience-thousands of young people who would like to make a difference in their communities but don't exactly know how, and have no means of doing so. Volunteering is one avenue not only for them to give something back, but under this program, to grow in the process."
Make a Connection - Pripoj se has two patrons in the Czech Republic: singer Zuzana Norisová and actress Tána Vilhelmová.
About Make a Connection
Make a Connection is a global, multi-year partnership between the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Nokia to promote positive youth development by giving young people and 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 to make a positive contribution to their societies. Country programs are currently running in Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom and now also in the Czech Republic. www.makeaconnection.org
About NROS
The Civil Society Development Foundation (NROS) aims to strengthen the NGO sector through philanthropy and voluntary work in the Czech republic as well as projects that contribute to the development of civil society and European integration. The foundation supports non-profit organizations working with threatened and disadvantaged groups, defending human rights, democratic values, tolerance and the respect of minority rights within society, or otherwise raising awareness of these issues among citizens. One of the key target groups of the foundation is children and young people. With the experience from a variety of youth projects, NROS has the necessary know-how and expertise to successfully implement Make a Connection in the Czech Republic in co-operation with the International Youth Foundation and Nokia. www.nros.cz
About International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is one of the world's largest public foundations focused on children and youth. IYF 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 organisations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic partnerships. Currently operating in more than 60 countries, IYF and its partners have helped more than 23 million young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. 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 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. www.nokia.com
Further information:
NROS
Lenka Naceradska
Phone +420 2 333 561 73
lenka.naceradska@nros.cz
Nokia
Larisa Francirkova
Phone +420 602 120 339
larisa.francirkova@nokia.com
MMD Public Relations
Marlene Lasova
Phone +420 2 24251555
lasova@mmd.cz