Make a Connection - Making a Difference with Youth

In April 2000, Nokia, in partnership with the International Youth Foundation, introduced Make a Connection - a global program to promote life skills and provide educational opportunities for youths. The program aims to promote positive youth development by giving young people a chance to connect with themselves, their communities, their families and their peers.

This global initiative is designed locally to serve children and youth - each country creating a unique program to suit their needs. In Brazil, a reading program for disadvantaged children was launched, a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program was introduced in Germany, and in South Africa unemployed college graduates learn how to find and keep a job.

Make a Connection Canada

In October 2002, Nokia Canada will become the 12th country to introduce the “Make a Connection” program. A lifeskills program for Canadian First Nations, Metis and Inuit children and youth, Make a Connection Canada empowers Aboriginal youth to develop the skills needed to succeed.

A roundtable conference of aboriginal leaders from across the country will lay the groundwork for the Canadian Make a Connection program. Co-designed with Lions-Quest Canada, the program targets Aboriginal children and youth between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Make a Connection Canada aims to foster healthy, capable young people of strong character through skill development facilitated by a caring network of adults. An integrated approach in the home, school and community provides a united circle of support to nurture positive youth development. Over the first three years 15,000 youth will benefit from the Make a Connection Canada program.

How does MAKE A CONNECTION work?

Youth access the community-based Make a Connection program in their local schools and community youth centres. In addition to the regular curriculum, youth support workers including teachers, nurses, police and parents reinforce the program’s messages to youth in a motivating, inspiring and engaging way. The Nokia employee volunteer program connects youth with adults outside the community who support them in developing personal and social skills and expands the participants support network. Fortified with practical life tools, youth are empowered to design their own future.

Skills developed with Make a Connection

Make a Connection teaches youth about the necessity of utilizing life skills such as:

• Communication
• Conflict resolution
  
• Respect for self and others
  
• Responsibility
  
• Goal-setting
  
• Anger management
  
• Community involvement
  
• Self-confidence
  

How do you become involved with Make a Connection?

Aboriginal communities interested in becoming one of 15 Canadian communities to offer the Make a Connection program are invited to contact Joanne McQuiggan at Lions-Quest Canada, 1-800-265-2680