Argentina
Program: Posta Joven
Launched: 2004
Projected reach: 5,400 young people, ages 17 to 24
Focus: Young people receive leadership training and carry out plans for addressing urgent local challenges. In the process, they gain communication, consensus building, and project management skills.

Belgium
Program: Future Smile
Launched: 2006
Projected reach: 900 youth
Focus: Members of youth groups learn to incorporate sustainable development thinking into their social change activities.

Brazil
Program: Mudando a Historía
Launched: 2001
Projected reach: 39,900 children and youth
Focus: Trains young people to serve as reading mentors who teach disadvantaged children the joys of reading and learning.

Canada
Program: Directors of Change
Launched: 2007
Projected reach: 10,045 young people, ages 10-19
Focus: Trains young people to make documentary films about social issues in other countries, which are used to encourage Canadians to take action to make genuine and significant change in their own communities and those of their disadvantaged peers.

Chile
Program: Conéctate
Launched: 2005
Projected reach: 550 youth, ages 18-25
Focus: Provides vocational and life skills training and job placement services to disadvantaged youth in Santiago and the Bio Bio region.

Colombia
Program: Conéctate
Launched: 2005
Projected reach: 475 youth, ages 16-21
Focus: Equips disadvantaged youth with training in information technology skills, while developing their self-esteem, creative and critical thinking, communications skills, and responsibility.

Czech Republic
Program: Make a Connection - Pripoj se
Launched: 2002
Projected reach: 1,200 youth
Focus: Provides small grants to youth groups to carry out volunteer projects, while also providing training in project management, budget planning, and fundraising.

Finland
Program: Zest
Launched: 2003
Projected reach: 80,000 young people, ages 13 to 15
Focus: High profile individuals, including athletes, visit schools, giving talks on life skills. Youth have access to life skills tools on a special program website; teachers are equipped with lesson plans for follow-up teaching.

Hungary
Program: Kapcsolodj be
Launched: 2002
Projected reach: 2,855 youth, ages 14 to 20
Focus: Youth receive training and small grants to develop volunteer projects. Participants develop valuable skills, while contributing to their communities.

Italy
Program: IDEE X FARE
Launched: 2006
Projected reach: 1,500 youth, ages 15-25
Focus: Youth receive life skills and project management training, as well as small grants, to transform their ideas for improving their communities into action.

Mexico
Program: Camara ahí nos vemos
Launched: 2001
Projected reach: 4,250 young people
Focus: Coaches young adults to work with children in producing short documentary films in which they reflect on life in their communities.

Netherlands
Program: Youth Press Agencies
Launched: 2005
Projected reach: 600 young people, ages 12-16
Focus: Young people develop key life skills such as creativity, communication, and analytical thinking through producing media projects.

Nigeria
Program: Leadership for Health
Launched: 2005
Reach: 3,500 youth, ages 17-30
Focus: Develops leadership and life skills among youth who are trained to run HIV/AIDS-focused initiatives.

Peru
Program: De calle a calle
Launched: 2003
Projected reach: 900 youth, 180 parents
Focus: Provides life skills education and volunteer opportunities to youth growing up in three of Lima's poorest communities, while transforming public perceptions of young people's capabilities.

Poland
Program: Przylacz sie!
Launched: 2001
Projected reach: 2,400 young people, ages 16 to 22
Focus: Provides small grants to young people to launch volunteer projects. Participants acquire life skills and experience that enhance their job prospects, while making a difference in their communities.

Russia
Program: Make a Connection
Launched: 2004
Projected reach: 5,000 young people
Focus: Encourages a volunteer spirit among Russian youth through providing training and support to launch community projects.

Turkey
Program: Dreams Workshop
Launched: 2003
Projected reach: 32,660 children and adolescents
Focus: Supports the positive development of disadvantaged young people in Turkey through training teenage volunteers to help educate their younger peers.

United Kingdom
Program: Life Routes
Launched: 2001
Projected reach: 18,500 11- to 16-year-olds; 350 teachers and program practitioners
Focus: Development of a life skills curriculum now being used in over 600 schools. Through the curriculum, students develop their emotional literacy, ability to relate to others, and connection to the greater community.

United States
Program: Make a Connection Thru Art
Launched: 2004
Projected reach: 1,270 young people, ages 11-13
Focus: Enables young people to express themselves, and their views on the world, through art. In the process, they gain critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.

Venezuela
Program: Conéctate
Launched: 2005
Projected reach: 500 youth, ages 18-29
Focus: Trains youth in information technology skills and enhances their employability through developing interpersonal, teamwork, communication, and creative thinking skills.