About TIG

Subscribe to our RSS Feeds

Media Mentions

The following is a list of all media items featuring TakingITGlobal. If you'd like to add a media mention, let us know!

All Media is New Media

UNICEF: Media Magic Digest - Marzo 28, 2008
The March issue of Media Magic Digest featured two pieces about TakingITGlobal - one on the organization, and one on an extremely active member, Yassir El Ouarzadi




TakingITGlobal

TakingITGlobal (TIG) describes itself as "the world's first social network for social change." Created in 1999 in Canada by Jennifer Corriero and Micheal Furdyk, TIG has sought, from the beginning, to harness the power of youth as instruments of social change using technology as a conduit.

Now, with more than 192,000 members in over 200 countries - and partnerships with UNICEF and other development and advocacy organizations - TIG is yielding real results with its innovative approach to social activism.

"There's a great reception because there's so much criticism about how there's a lot of negative things that happen on the web, and we're one of those kinds of examples of how it can be used as a positive civic space," says Jennifer.

Yassir El Ouarzadi, 17, is also a firm believer in the Internet as a positive tool for youth empowerment and community action. A high school student living in Canada, he was already an active member of the online global community before working with TIG to start his 'Highly Poetry' project - a collective poem co-written online by young people worldwide.

"Nowadays, I think it is very important for young people to create media - online projects, for example - since this is the avenue through which society in general can know and satisfy their needs and help them realize their objectives or start their projects," Yassir says.

Building piece by piece

At its inception, TIG created a Guide to Action to support and encourage youth to get involved and take action on their inspiration and ideas. The online publication is packed with useful ideas and lessons from dozens of other young members who have encountered and overcome challenges while following their dreams.

The Project Section was established to provide free online spaces where young people can post just about anything they want, from photos to lessons to updates on their own personal social-action projects. There have been more than 2,000 postings in this section of the website alone, and it continues to grow.

As the years passed, more features were added, including monthly themes that give members in-depth background information on pressing global issues, the Global Gallery (an online space for artists to showcase their work) and TIG Groups that allow members to seek out their peers and discuss specific topics.

The concept of TIG was also distilled down to the national and community levels. The Creating Local Connections programme facilitates networks of active youth leaders and youth-oriented organizations in particular countries or regions, while the TIG's Open Forums provide a safe and engaging environment where youth can interact face-to-face to discuss issues of concern to their local communities.

A social network for social good

TIG has evolved from a static website into a vibrant, global online community. It is now available in 12 languages and is one of the most engaging social networks for youth around the world.

Members of TIG have also benefited from the awareness they've been able to create by sharing their ideas and connecting with others to collaborate on projects.

"I liaised with another TakingITGlobal member to produce a 30-second TV commercial that was shown on the local community cable TV channel and on YouTube," says Ginger, a TIG member from Canada. "That commercial drove 10,000 people to our non-profit community event and was the key influence in driving 179,000 hits to the website."

Meanwhile, a number of non-profit groups, excited at the possibility of online social networking for social good, have approached TIG to help them build websites and develop youth engagement strategies.

TIG is yet another partner working with UNICEF to spread the message that all members of society, from the youngest to the eldest, have a part to play in our collective advancement and enrichment.



An interview with social action website member, Yassir El Quarzadi

Yassir El Ouarzadi, 17, is an active member of the social action website TakingITGlobal (TIG). Here he talks about his work on the website, as well as the importance of media for young people today.

Q. What has it meant for you to be an active member of TIG?
As an active member of TIG, I consider it a wonderful community that connects youth around the world and helps them find inspiration, information and get involved in improving their local and global communities. TakingItGlobal reflects how the Internet is so powerful.

Being an active member of TIG means for me that I am in the right place to realize my ambitions and influence positively people around me, especially young people. I try to raise awareness of topics that I consider crucial - like education, fighting poverty and climate changes - and maybe that way, help motivate people into making a positive change in the community.

Q. How do you see the role of new media for social change?
I firmly believe that mass media must be considered and used as a tool of education. In that way, new media can play an important role in our society. Media can help young people communicate their messages and ideas by creating a global community where youth can express themselves and create opportunities where they start working towards a better world. TIG reflects very well this spirit.

Q. Why do you think it's important for young people to create media?
Nowadays, I think it is very important for young people to create media - online projects, for example - since this is the avenue through which society in general can know and satisfy their needs and help them realize their objectives. Media is significant because it reflects what society thinks of itself and this is where influence of the masses becomes truly powerful.

Q. What kind of tools do you think are most useful?
I believe that the most important tools are Internet and TV programmes, since we live now in a world where technology is growing at an outstanding rate. That reality must be used in the right way - by educating people and sensitizing them about global issues like poverty, education and climate change in order to ensure a better future, or at least the same for our children.

Q. What kind of media do you think most youth are exposed to today?
Youth are being exposed mostly to TV and Internet. That fact is a double-edged weapon because it has its advantages and a number of inconveniences too. To focus on the advantages, I think that media can empower young people by creating dialogue and debate on issues affecting youth and society in general. This will create opportunities for solutions to the main problems that are facing young people today - especially ensuring primary education for children and fighting poverty, as well as decreasing the bad effects of global warming.

Q. What issues do you feel passionate about? Tell us about your dreams.
I am passionate about science, sport, leadership, poetry, literature and other enriching activities. I like to get involved and therefore to make a positive change in society. I believe that youth must realize they are global citizens. I firmly believe that youth as a collective force have the ability to make great positive changes in our society and in the world in general.

Through the TIG networking platform, Yassir started an online education project that promotes poetry as a useful tool for people - helping them learn to communicate their ideas and visions, and improve their writing skills. Yassir would like to become cardiologist and, one day, become involved with Doctors Without Borders.