Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative

OLP.

Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program (OLP), now in its sixth year, integrates the use of the Internet into GK’s programming. The OLP equips youth with the skills necessary to use the Internet as a tool for research and social change and develops online resources for educators and young people to promote civic engagement and global literacy. Global Kids has developed innovative online programs in two major areas: online dialogues to engage youth in discussions of policy issues and socially conscious online games that promote active and engaged citizenship. The OLP has built strong collaborative relationships with the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the game design company gameLab, among others, and was recently selected as part of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Mid-Tier initiative, which seeks to find and support “pockets of innovation” for increasing digital literacy and career readiness. Through the program Playing 4 Keeps, young people at South Shore High School in Brooklyn are working with professional game designers to develop online games about social issues. In addition, Global Kids was recently selected by the Macarthur Foundation to use online dialogues to conduct research for the Foundation about the role of digital media in the lives of today’s youth.

These online projects target the constituency largely left out of the Internet revolution: youth from politically and economically marginalized communities. Global Kids' primary constituency is comprised of teens who attend New York City public high schools in underserved communities. These youth require new opportunities and online content that addresses the issues and concerns that affect their lives. They need the chance to experience the Internet as a place for self-improvement, as a place for connecting with others in a meaningful way, and as a place to work with others to take action around an important social issue.

• Create teams of digitally literate Global Kids Leaders who understand the connection between technology and global human rights and are experienced in online youth development.
• Promote civic engagement and social activism of youth through the Internet.
• Establish Global Kids as the foremost organization creating and implementing online youth development, civic participation and global education programs.