More than Seven Million Youth to be connected through online social network

TORONTO, Ontario - Mobile Jam Fest (MJF), the world's largest youth creativity festival, is partnering with international development organization Plan Canada, to create one of the world’s largest youth social network that will give more than seven million global youth access to a safe, user-generated, online platform to share and creatively express themselves.

This initiative will also allow Canadian classrooms the opportunity to engage, create, collaborate and exchange online media content, like films, photography, radio production, creative writing, citizen activism with other Plan youth from places as far off as Sudan, Peru and Indonesia.

"To successfully engage today’s youth, we must use the interactive tools they are accustomed to and comfortable with,” says Craig Goodwill, executive director of MJF. “This social-networking and user-generated “Creative Class” platform provides youth the opportunity to collaborate, share and connect; which is consistent with what we have been striving to do with our larger Mobile Jam Fest initiative."

The ultimate goal is to empower young people from around the world with the ability to express themselves and share their creativity, tearing down cultural or geographical boundaries.
“Plan Canada is a leader in developing and running youth media projects, giving kids the confidence and ability to have their voices heard,” says Goodwill. “I have traveled to both West Africa and Haiti to see Plan’s work first hand. I cannot be more thrilled about working with this organization.”

“Plan Canada is an organization that works everyday to ensure the rights of children are met around the world, and we believe that engaging children in the process is integral to achieving that goal,” says Dr. Tanjina Mirza, Senior Director, International Programs, Plan Canada. “Connecting youth around the globe not only empowers them, it allows them to become part of a community in which children are speaking out, and others, including adults are taking note. Plan has youth media programs in almost all of the 49 developing countries they work in, and this relationship with Mobile Jam Fest will connect young people from across the globe, including Canada.

MJF is an international youth creativity competition for ages 14-29. MJF brings together youth to collaborate in the areas of creativity, education and social awareness. For more information about Mobile Jam Fest go to http://www.mobilejamfest.com.

Plan Canada is part of Plan International, a child-centred international development and humanitarian relief organization that operates in 49 developing countries. I was founded in 1937 as Foster Parents Plan.
For more information, please contact:

Mobile Jam Fest:
Paul Tyler
pt@goldfenixcom.ca
www.mobilejamfest.com

Steven Theobald, media relations manager at Plan Canada, 416-920-1654 ext 211, or stheobald@plancanada.ca