Closing Date for Entries to 2002 Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards is 31st October 2001 03 October 2001
click here to print this page

Childnet International, the children’s Internet charity, announces that the closing date for entries to the annual Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards is 31st October 2001. Entries can be submitted at www.childnetawards.org

Now in its fifth year, the Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards seek to reward children and those who work with them, for projects that use the Internet to bring children together, communicate across borders and directly benefit other children.

Those nominated for awards in the competition’s three main categories, will win an all expenses paid trip to the Awards ceremony in Paris, France in April 2002 where the winners will be announced. Nominations for the awards will be announced in January 2002 and will be judged by an international panel of judges.

The three categories are:

Schools
Individual
Not for Profit

This year a new award has been introduced in addition to the three main categories. The 'New to the Net' award is especially for those who may or may not have Internet access, but have new and exciting ideas for Internet based projects and activities which will benefit children. This new award reflects Cable & Wireless’ commitment to addressing “Digital Divide” issues (See note to editors).

Larry Magid, a syndicated U.S. columnist, founder of Safekids.com, and one of the Awards judges said: “The Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards are unique in that special emphasis is placed on projects or ideas that are international in nature and where kids are using technology to connect with other children to develop projects which really benefit other children.”

Stephenie Lau, a 17 year old winner from Hong Kong in the Individual category, at last year’s Awards, said: “Childnet has brought together a diverse group of people – in terms of race, age, culture and ability and yet they share the same goals and vision for the future. With all their efforts and enthusiasm our Internet community is certainly embracing a bright future.”
Award winners in 2001 included “Flat Stanley” from Canada - a web-site enabling children to donate books and food to those with leprosy in Brazil; “Animal Diaries” - A Web-site linking schools from 8 countries aimed at giving an appreciation for reading, writing and children’s literature; and “Environment on-line” (ENO) - a global virtual school for environment awareness.

Ends

For Further Information:
Stephen Carrick-Davies at Childnet
Tel: +44 20 7639 6967
e-mail: stephen@childnet-int.org

Ed Knight at Cable & Wireless
Tel: +44 2073156759
e-mail: ed.knight@cw.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes to Editor:

1. Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over £8 billion (US$11 billion) in the year to 31 March 2001 and customers in 70 countries. Cable & Wireless' focus for future growth is on IP (Internet protocol) and data services and solutions for business customers. It is developing advanced IP networks and value-added services in the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in support of this strategy. With the capability of its global IP infrastructure and its strength in key markets, Cable & Wireless holds a unique position in terms of global coverage and services to business customers. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com

2. Children's Internet charity, Childnet International was set up in 1995 with the aim of helping to make the Internet a great and safe place for children. The organisation works in four key function areas:

Access, - promoting access to the Internet to those who stand most to benefit.
Awareness -helping children acquire new net literacy skills and giving advice to parents and the media about Internet safety.
Protection - providing vital co-ordination between many international organisations working to protect children.
And Policy - advising Industry and others on policy issues relating to children's safe use of the Internet. Full details of this work and the specific projects Childnet runs is available at www.childnet-int.org

3. Digital divide - Many Societies around the world have been excluded from the benefits brought about by the rapid development of information and communications technology (ICT). As a result, they find themselves on the wrong side of a “digital divide”. We believe societies can accelerate their social and economic development through appropriate access to ITC. Cable & Wireless provide IP solutions to our customers and through our community investment programme, we are determined to translate this knowledge into projects, which help to narrow the existing digital divide.