Your Website Could Take You To Jamaica 06 September 2004
Talented young web designers from the UK could win an all expenses paid trip to Jamaica as part of an international competition launched today.
The competition, open to young web developers (aged 18 and under) is part of the Cable & Wireless Childnet Academy 2005 www.childnetacademy.org. Winners will be invited to attend the week-long Academy in Jamaica next Easter, where they will be offered specialist web support, technical advice and leadership training from a team of internet experts.
The initiative, run by children’s internet charity Childnet International, in partnership with Cable & Wireless aims to recognise the outstanding creativity of children and young people who are developing exciting online projects which bring positive benefit to other young people worldwide.
Last year’s winners included 17-year old Joanne Evans, a wheelchair user from Glasgow, who is the co-creator of The Wheel Guide to Life – a website that acts as an information bureau for young people with disabilities. She said:
“The Academy brought together a family of people united by technology and the internet. It also provided an excellent learning experience and a great deal of fun at the same time!”
Young people who have limited access to technology but who have a ‘new idea’ for the internet can enter the competition’s New to the Net category. Entries are also being invited for the competition’s Individual & Schools categories.
As well as a trip to Jamaica, winners will receive a share of a special £30k web development prize fund, which has been established by Cable & Wireless to help participants develop their own websites.
Stephen Carrick-Davies, CEO of Childnet International says:
“Young people are using the internet to communicate, learn and interact with each other – often in a highly creative and inspirational way. The Academy aims to recognise the excellent work of many young people who are using the internet safely and positively to the benefit of young people around the world.”
Gareth James, Managing Director – UK Corporate Markets, Cable & Wireless said:
“Cable & Wireless is proud to support the important work of Childnet International and encourage young people to use the internet in a positive way. Information communications technology is at the heart of our business and the Academy demonstrates how young people are using ICT to express their own creativity, share ideas and benefit other young people across the world.”
The deadline for competition entries is 6 December 2004. For more information and details of how to enter on-line see www.childnetacademy.org, tanya@childnet-int.org, (0)20 7639 6967.
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About Childnet International: Childnet International is a registered charity, set up in 1996 - with the mission to work in partnership with others around the world to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. The vision of the organisation is to ensure that all those involved in developing, producing, controlling, using and regulating international telecommunications (current and future), recognise and implement policies and programmes which prioritise the rights of children so that their interests are both promoted and protected. For more information about Childnet International go to www.childnet-int.org.
About Cable & Wireless: Cable & Wireless is one of the world’s leading international communications companies. It provides voice, data and IP (Internet Protocol) services to business and residential customers, as well as services to other telecoms carriers, mobile operators and providers of content, applications and internet services. Cable & Wireless’ principal operations are in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Panama, and the Middle East. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com.
Stephen Carrick-Davies, Childnet International.
Tel: +44(0)20 7639 6967.
E-mail: stephen@childnet-int.org
Joe Franses, Cable & Wireless.
Tel: +44(0)20 7315 4489.
E-mail: joe.franses@cw.com