TakingITGlobal and CIDA Hosted an Online Chat about International Development

To coincide with International Development Week in Canada, TakingITGlobal (TIG) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) hosted a week-long online campaign, from January 30, to February 5, 2005, to encourage youth to share their thoughts and questions on International Development and relief efforts from a Canadian perspective.

Toronto, (PRWEB) February 17, 2005 -- The week included two live online chats with guest speakers, and a discussion board, whose topic was 'After the Tsunami. The online chats, on February 2 and 3, were in English for an hour, and followed by French for an hour.

Each chat featured a different online speaker. On February 2, the guest speaker was Nelly Desrosiers, Communications Officer of CARE. On February 3, the guest was Jill Mills, Program Coordinator at the Global Youth Action Network, who spoke on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Over 4,000 people participated in or viewed the discussions.

One of these participants was 'Dgislason, a TIG member from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, who wrote, I was never prouder to be a Canadian when the fundraising campaigns began all across Canada."

According to Cheryl Gudz, TIGs Community Engagement Coordinator, who co-organized the chat, "The participants showed a real interest in discussing alternatives and questioning priorities of the government and aid organizations. Overall, I sensed that there was a definite desire on the part of youth to be involved and active on development issues."

To participate in the ongoing discussion, please visit: http://discuss.takingitglobal.org/afterthetsunami

For more information about TakingITGlobals involvement in the aforementioned topics, please contact Marilyn Bromberg, TIGs Communications Coordinator, at communications@takingitglobal.org

About TakingITGlobal: TakingITGlobal is an international organization, led by youth, empowered by technology. TIG brings together young people in more than 200 countries within international networks to collaborate on projects addressing global problems and creating positive change. TakingITGlobals main program, the TakingITGlobal.org online community, now receives over 45 million hits per month. Founded by young Canadians in 2000, TIG has launched projects with six UN agencies, and is supported by several major corporations, including HP, Microsoft, and RBC Financial Group.

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