Why Youtheme Online?

Youtheme.org is a new type of community, developed within the context of several emerging trends.

Global Challenges Demanding Global Solutions

• From the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, to the emerging of crisis of global warming, to the threat of terrorism, or the specter of war - never before such a broad array of important social, economic, environmental, and political challenges been dominated by international dimensions. The National news is now almost entirely taken up with World stories. Such far reaching problems demand global solutions, developed with cooperation, entrepreneurship and urgency. As the world's challenges take on an increasingly global dimension, people at the local level feel increasingly powerless as traditional forms of civic engagement have less meaning and impact. The issues can seem too far away - both from citizens' personal reality, and from the stage in which even elected national government can make a real difference.

A Revolution in Information & Communications Technologies

• For thousands of years, the Earth's oceans and mountains ranges formed almost insurmountable geographic barriers - keeping cultures and people apart, issues isolated, and the pace of change slow. However, over the last fifty years, and especially the last ten, developments in ICT have wired the world, bringing at least those of us lucky or wealthy enough to be connected into a global village. Satellite news and entertainment networks broadcast events and (sometimes homogeneous) culture from one corner of the planet to the others. People are more literate and more educated, and through the Internet are increasingly participating in the access, creation and dissemination of information. Our friends and colleagues can just be on the other side of the planet as easily as the other side of the street. Technology is facilitating the emergence of global networks that more easily build critical mass of people sharing interests, stories, issues, and actions.

Young People - Our Greatest Untapped Resource

• Young people have too often been seen as a burden rather than an asset, a group to be taught but not to teach, and to receive but not to give. Yet this is a view we simply can't afford to have. Young people are in fact an ever-growing demographic force. The average age of a person in Asia is 28, meaning half the population is young. In the developing world, where 80% of young people can be found, youth make up to 70% of a nation's population.

Trends Which Are Connected

• Perhaps what makes these trends even more interesting is the way in which they intersect. While young people are often nation's healthiest, most educated and most driven citizens, they are also disproportionately affected by major global issues. Youth unemployment is running at almost 40% - this is a billion young people without productive or sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, tens of millions of young people are child labor workers, exploited in the global economy, or victims of trafficking and the sex trade. Approximately half of new HIV infections are in youth aged 15 - 24 - no fewer than 6,500 young people acquire the HIV virus each day. While there have been some improvements in literacy rates, in some parts of Africa and South Asia, girls still have illiteracy rates higher than 40%.

• More positively, young people have been at the forefront of the information society, leading the creation and adoption of new technologies. Almost every major innovation in the Information Technology industry – from the World Wide Web to Open Source software, to peer-to-peer file sharing – has been spearheaded by young people. And young people seek out access to technology more than any other group – from a home PC to the local Internet café. A major reason for technology use is the potential to connect with others’ cultures, issues and viewpoints, find an outlet for expression, and tap into new information and opportunities. This curiosity and desire to connect with global peers is deeply linked with young people’s social conscious and desire to participate in and contribute to society.

An Idea whose Time Has Come

We believe Youtheme.org is an idea whose time has come. Uniquely positioned as youth serving youth, we capitalize and realize the potential of youth - to create global networks and programs that address international development priorities.