Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/134182
AWARDS " e are working with extremely at-risk boys from a shelter W Aspire Awards http://youthvoices.adobe.com/awards The Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards is a global competition that invites young people to express their vision towards positive change in their communities. In 2012, three of TakingITGlobal's partner sites won awards in the competition. Puerta Joven, our partner site in Mexico won first prize in the Animation category for Fermin Martinez's video Cambio Jovenes (http://www.tigurl.org/ ferminaa); Asociación Civil Acción por la Paz from Guatemala also won first prize in the Graphic Design category for Javier Esquit's piece, I'm a Woman and I'm Proud (http://www.tigurl.org/javieraa); and finally, Bonaire Youth Outreach Foundation from Bonaire won the audience choice award in the Poetry/Experimental media category for Meralney Bomba's video Let It Go (http://www.tigurl. org/meralneyaa). called Pronino. Testing different techniques in different lighting and from different angles it is hard to avoid becoming a target of the curious lens of their cameras. It is an important achievement for us as instructors to give local youth positive outlets for their creativity." — Sam Rioux, Educator, Organisation for Youth Empowerment, Honduras Intercultural Innovation Award http://interculturalinnovation.org/the-award Our Mexican partner site Puerta Joven was selected as the first place winner of the Intercultural Innovation Award for their work with indigenous youth in Mexico and Guatemala to foster cultural expressions using mobile technology. United Nations Democracy Fund http://www.un.org/democracyfund Shilpa Sayura Foundation, a partner site from Sri Lanka, was awarded a grant through the United Nations Democracy Fund. They will be using the award to support their work engaging students and educators in developing and strengthening democratic dialogue through digital media. Connect4Climate http://connect4climate.org Community Development Centre from India received two Connect4Climate awards for the inspiring work of Manthan Charles, a young digital photographer and Adobe Youth Voices participant. He placed first in the Energy category (http://www. tigurl.org/energy) and third place in the Water category (http:// www.tigurl.org/water) " e love taking photos and video that show other people W our lives and our community. This program has given me WHAT'S NEXT? We are gearing up for an exciting new cycle of the Adobe Youth Voices program. In the coming year, we will aim to increase international youth collaboration through interactive webinars aimed at engaging young people in cross-cultural dialogue. We will also continue supporting collaboration among partner sites by facilitating partnerships and providing training and resources focused on developing cross-cultural competencies and fostering international collaboration. In the coming year we plan to continue exhibiting youth media at a variety of exciting events to provide meaningful platforms to showcase youth creativity, while simultaneously drawing attention to critical global issues. We will also focus on supporting our partner sites in delivering high-quality youth media exhibitions for local stakeholders and community members. a chance to express myself and learn new skills. I also have made a lot of friends here and the teachers have been great." — Malena Casimiro, Youth Artist, Cloudhead Art Organisation, Argentina. 2013 will mark the beginning of the implementation of the new Adobe Youth Voices mission: to ignite creative confidence in youth by empowering them to find their voice and make it heard. We look forward to supporting this mission by continuing to inspire creativity and innovation in educators and young people around the world. TakingITGlobal Annual Report 2012 27