Youthink! in the News

PRESS RELEASE

Nicole Frost, World Bank Online Communications Manager, and Christine Sedky, Youthink! Coordinator

Additional 5-Word Speech Ideas Received from Youthink! Readers

"We can make it better." —G.L.

"We are one human family." —Jimmarie

"Push the world for better." —Nazimhk

"We know that you(th) can!" —Nikola

"You thought. We Did. Thanks!" —Christine

"Together we can make changes. You think and everyone succeeds. We believe in the world. We all achieve the impossible. It only takes an idea. Reality is … making a difference. Help us by helping others." —Godblessevery1

"Objective: Equalize optimum world development." —R.V.

"We think to thank you." —Filipe

"We know that you(th) can!" —Nikola

"Water, earth, air, fire, Youthink!" —Unabojan

"We care what youth think." —Donna

"Ending poverty is our dream." —Adnan

"We empower beyond belief, yeah!" —H.G.

"Bringing the world together!" —J.R.

Youthink! About Ending Poverty

WASHINGTON, DC, June 15, 2006—The team behind the World Bank's youth website, Youthink!, joined a star-studded cast including Prince and noted New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, in accepting one of the 10th Annual Webby Awards.

The Webbys are awarded by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a global organization recognizing excellence in web design, creativity, usability and functionality.

Youthink! was selected by the 500-member body of leading web experts, business figures, luminaries and creative celebrities as the winner of the Webby Award for Activism.

Launched in April 2004, with the aim of introducing development issues to a teen audience, Youthink! has more than 16,000 visitors a month. The Webby Award for Activism was for the best site for facilitating political change, social movement, human rights, public education and reform or revolution.

While dubbed the Oscars of the Internet, the Webby Awards are also noted by their mandatory five word acceptance speeches.

So with that in mind, the World Bank's Online Communications Manager, Nicole Frost, took to the stage at Monday night's awards presentation at the Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and accepted the Webby Award for Youthink! with the words: "Youthink!—about ending poverty."

It was a 15 year old Indonesian girl who came up with the words for Frost's acceptance speech after Youthink posted a notice on its website seeking ideas from its readers (see box).

But, equally, the five words uttered by Prince, who was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Webby for his visionary use of the internet to distribute music and connect with fans, could have been on behalf of Youthink!

"Everything you think is true," he said.

"You are all magicians—creating a place for us to go to, "said filmmaker Tiffany Schlain, who created the Webbys in 1996, when the web was still in its infancy. She noted that almost a billion people are now online—almost one sixth of the world's population.

Columnist Thomas Friedman, accepting his Person of the Year Award

Prince wrapped up the evening with a performance of "Don't Play Me"—which ended with the musician flinging his guitar behind him before exiting the stage.

Regarding the future influence of the Web, Columnist Thomas Friedman, who received a Webby Person of the Year Award, had this to offer:

"Whatever can be done, will be done. There's only one question—will it be done to you or by you? But trust me it will be done."

Other award winners included Chris Wolfe, founder of MySpace.com; Gorillaz as Artist of the Year; Arianna Huffington for her political blog, Google Earth, Google Maps, Flickr, National Public Radio and the BBC. UNICEF—State of the World's Children 2006 won a People's Choice Webby for charitable organizations/non-profits.

The Webby Awards ceremony was hosted this year by comedian Rob Corddry, from Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is a diverse organization with members such as musicians, Beck and David Bowie, internet investor, Vint Cerf, The Simpsons creator, Matt Groening, and The Body Shop president, Anita Roddick.

This year's nominations for the Webby awards drew more than 5,500 entries from more than 40 countries for categories as diverse as consumer and culture, film, food, travel and blogging.

Contact: Christine R. Sedky, 202.458.8588, csedky@worldbank.org, Washington, DC

^ top