TakingITGlobal
Encyclopedia
TakingITGlobal, which is also known as TIG, is a charitable non-governmental organization focusing on global issues by promoting awareness and engagement among global youth. It was founded in 1999 in Toronto
, Canada
by Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, who are the Executive Director and Director of Technology respectively. TIG uses an online social network
aimed primarily at youth to raise awareness and discussion on a number of global issues and encourages youth to take action that affects their local and global communities. Often cited as “the world’s largest community for young people interested in positive change” , TIG’s membership has exceeded 230,000 active members from about 261 countries, as of February 2009. Their monthly growth rate has been estimated to be about 10%. While a majority of the organization’s work is conducted through their website, TIG has also organized online e-courses, training programs and youth forums. TIG's involvement with international conferences ranges from being a coordinating committee member of the Mexico YouthForce for the XVII International AIDS Conference
to being an organizing partner for the 4th World Youth Congress (Conference Website) which was under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada
.
, MySpace
and Friendster
), the network was populated by thousands of teenagers from over 100 countries. As the services and programs of TakingITGlobal evolved, Corriero now calls TakingITGlobal "a platform to support collaboration among young people in developing projects, in understanding and grappling issues, and influencing the decision-making processes, especially around those that are directly affecting young people."
s.
TakingITGlobal has also developed a platform for teachers, called TIGed (TakingITGlobal for Educators) where "teachers introduce online safe social networking to their students, but they can also connect with other educators who are passionate about global education." The program has been recognized as a comprehensive collaborative tool for educators – for instance, at the 2008 National Educational Computing Conference in San Antonio organized by the International Society for Technology in Education
, the TIGed program was referenced several times by various presenters.
TakingITGlobal has recently partnered with the Pearson Foundation http://www.pearsonfoundation.org to design and develop an e-learning course as part of its efforts to promote digital literacy
. This project, called the Sprout e-course, focuses on educating participants on the subject of turning ideas on environmental and social sustainability into practical projects.
TakingITGlobal recently began working with Better The World
, enabling their members and others to raise money for TIG simply by surfing the internet.
.. TIG was also recognized as one of the World's Most Democratic Workplaces by WorldBlu, having received the honor two years in a row in 2007 and 2008.
TakingITGlobal's founders have also won a number of awards on a personal level for their work with TIG. Correiro has won the 2008 Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Impact Conference), and has been listed as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2007 by Women's Executive Network in the 2007 Future Leader Category. Furdyk has been named as one of the 10 Tech Revolutionaries Redefining the Power and Face of Philanthropy by Contribute Magazine, and has been selected as one of Converge Magazine's "Shapers of Our Future".
Don Tapscott
, the author of the best-selling book Wikinomics
, called TakingITGlobal "one of the world's best examples of how N-Geners are using digital technologies to transform the world around them."
To access the resources available, a logon is required. However, membership is free, and is done in keeping with the organization’s privacy policies, to aid freedom of expression, information and online security of its members.
The minimum age of access is 16 years, though teachers and/or parents are also allowed to gain membership on behalf of a minor.
, Microsoft
, Canadian International Development Agency
, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
, Ontario Trillium Foundation
and The Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation.
Their website also lists a number of partner organizations that include Journalists for Human Rights, Oxfam Canada
, Greenpeace International
and various UN agencies.
Apart from this, TIG was also seen by some others as one that only serves the interests of developing nations and in need of a wider appeal to attract a more global membership. Another concern was the need to initiate selective sponsorship onto its website, in order to fund its increasing impact, and its need to incorporate a more exclusive approach to its membership, without being seen as a "sell-out."
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, who are the Executive Director and Director of Technology respectively. TIG uses an online social network
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
aimed primarily at youth to raise awareness and discussion on a number of global issues and encourages youth to take action that affects their local and global communities. Often cited as “the world’s largest community for young people interested in positive change” , TIG’s membership has exceeded 230,000 active members from about 261 countries, as of February 2009. Their monthly growth rate has been estimated to be about 10%. While a majority of the organization’s work is conducted through their website, TIG has also organized online e-courses, training programs and youth forums. TIG's involvement with international conferences ranges from being a coordinating committee member of the Mexico YouthForce for the XVII International AIDS Conference
International AIDS Conference
The International AIDS Society is the custodian of the International AIDS Conference, the largest regular conference on any health or development issue. These conferences provide a forum for the interaction of science, community and leadership, and are claimed to strengthen an evidence-based...
to being an organizing partner for the 4th World Youth Congress (Conference Website) which was under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Mission & Vision
TIG's stated mission is to "provide opportunities for learning, capacity-building, cross-cultural awareness, and self-development through the use of Information and Communication Technologies." TakingITGlobal's website lists seven objectives, which includes being the "preferred online destination for youth interested in cross-cultural expression, dialogue, networking, and collaboration" and to "mainstream recognition that young people are a key stakeholder in all aspects of society including national and international policy."History
When founding the organization in 1999, co-founders Corriero and Furdyk wanted to "work together to create a global network for young people who either have an idea that they want to develop, or who want the opportunity to work on someone else's project." This was the foundation for one of the world's first online social communities. Within a year of its official launch on September 2, 2000, (predating services such as FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
and Friendster
Friendster
Friendster is a social gaming site that is based in Malaysia, KL. The company now operates mainly from the three Asian countries namely in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore....
), the network was populated by thousands of teenagers from over 100 countries. As the services and programs of TakingITGlobal evolved, Corriero now calls TakingITGlobal "a platform to support collaboration among young people in developing projects, in understanding and grappling issues, and influencing the decision-making processes, especially around those that are directly affecting young people."
Programs
One of TIG's main offerings is its Online Community, which "guides users to a deeper awareness of social, economic, and environmental issues." It "builds a bridge between learning and action" thus "fostering mutual understanding across continents and languages." There are a number of tools that users can use, from managing projects, participating in discussion boards, signing petitions and writing blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s.
TakingITGlobal has also developed a platform for teachers, called TIGed (TakingITGlobal for Educators) where "teachers introduce online safe social networking to their students, but they can also connect with other educators who are passionate about global education." The program has been recognized as a comprehensive collaborative tool for educators – for instance, at the 2008 National Educational Computing Conference in San Antonio organized by the International Society for Technology in Education
ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education is a nonprofit professional organization with a worldwide membership of leaders and potential leaders in educational technology...
, the TIGed program was referenced several times by various presenters.
TakingITGlobal has recently partnered with the Pearson Foundation http://www.pearsonfoundation.org to design and develop an e-learning course as part of its efforts to promote digital literacy
Digital literacy
Digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and analyze information using digital technology. It involves a working knowledge of current high-technology, and an understanding of how it can be used. Further, digital literacy involves a consciousness of the...
. This project, called the Sprout e-course, focuses on educating participants on the subject of turning ideas on environmental and social sustainability into practical projects.
TakingITGlobal recently began working with Better The World
Better The World
Better The World is the world's first effortless fundraising platform that enables people to raise money for charity while surfing the Internet. The platform targets Internet users who have no money to give and charity supporters who want to do more...
, enabling their members and others to raise money for TIG simply by surfing the internet.
Awards and recognition
TakingITGlobal is notable for receiving a number of awards for its work with global youth. At the 2005 Canadian Awards for International Cooperation, TIG received the Mark Drake Award for Excellence in Communicating the Private Sector's Contribution to International Cooperation Issues. In 2007, TIG received the Microsoft Education Award as a Laureate of the 2007 Tech Museum AwardsThe Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech Museum of Innovation, or simply The Tech, is a museum located in the heart of Silicon Valley, in downtown San Jose, California USA.-History:...
.. TIG was also recognized as one of the World's Most Democratic Workplaces by WorldBlu, having received the honor two years in a row in 2007 and 2008.
TakingITGlobal's founders have also won a number of awards on a personal level for their work with TIG. Correiro has won the 2008 Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Impact Conference), and has been listed as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2007 by Women's Executive Network in the 2007 Future Leader Category. Furdyk has been named as one of the 10 Tech Revolutionaries Redefining the Power and Face of Philanthropy by Contribute Magazine, and has been selected as one of Converge Magazine's "Shapers of Our Future".
Membership
As of January 2010, TakingITGlobal's global membership numbered over 250,000.Don Tapscott
Don Tapscott
Don Tapscott is a Canadian business executive, author, consultant and speaker, specializing in business strategy, organizational transformation and the role of technology in business and society. Tapscott is chairman of business strategy think tank New Paradigm , which he founded in 1993...
, the author of the best-selling book Wikinomics
Wikinomics
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything is a book by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams, first published in December 2006. It explores how some companies in the early 21st century have used mass collaboration and open-source technology, such as wikis, to be successful...
, called TakingITGlobal "one of the world's best examples of how N-Geners are using digital technologies to transform the world around them."
To access the resources available, a logon is required. However, membership is free, and is done in keeping with the organization’s privacy policies, to aid freedom of expression, information and online security of its members.
The minimum age of access is 16 years, though teachers and/or parents are also allowed to gain membership on behalf of a minor.
Supporters & Partners
TIG has an extensive list of funders and supporters across all sectors, including Adobe SystemsAdobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
, Ontario Trillium Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation , is an agency of the government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading grantmaking foundations. It was created in 1982...
and The Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation.
Their website also lists a number of partner organizations that include Journalists for Human Rights, Oxfam Canada
Oxfam Canada
Oxfam Canada, founded in 1963, is an international development agency based in Canada, and is a registered charity . It has offices throughout Canada and works with partner organizations in Africa, Asia and the Americas...
, Greenpeace International
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
and various UN agencies.
Criticism
TIG came under criticism in 2008, when Mathew Trevisan of the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail commented on TIG’s size, and observed that TIG might be “too big to be effective.”Apart from this, TIG was also seen by some others as one that only serves the interests of developing nations and in need of a wider appeal to attract a more global membership. Another concern was the need to initiate selective sponsorship onto its website, in order to fund its increasing impact, and its need to incorporate a more exclusive approach to its membership, without being seen as a "sell-out."