Award Winning Internet Children Champion Social Issues January 2001

Two UK websites are among the ten sites nominated today as winners of Childnet Awards for 2001. The children behind all ten nominated sites have already won a week's holiday in Washington DC, which will include the awards ceremony on 19th April 2001. At the ceremony in Washington they will discover if their site has won first, second or third in their category.

Sponsored by Cable & Wireless, the Childnet Awards are an international initiative which rewards children and those working with them who are developing outstanding Internet projects which benefit other children.

This year the Awards attracted a record number of entries - over 200 from 47 countries, worldwide. This year's ten short-listed projects come from Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, USA and the UK, and include projects by individuals, schools and not-for-profit groups and governments.

The Childnet judges are not just looking for technical expertise or sophisticated web design work, but rather how children are using the Internet to connect and engage with others and break down barriers.

One of the UK nominations, 16 year old Oli Watts, created his Pupiline website to help himself and other children overcome their fear of bullying. Oli has been able to build up a team of 15 other young people who now produce the online webzine as a place "where young people can put over their views and ideas and get advice on things that are affecting people everywhere".

The other UK nominated project is in the Government category, where Cambridgeshire County Council's Superhighway Alert, is a winner. This site enables children in primary school to help solve a scenario created by the emergency services in co-operation with the Council and Ordnance Survey.

Many of this year's projects challenge children and adults about their attitude to important social issues. Nigel Williams, Childnet's Director says, "Whilst many adults use the Internet just to make purchases, be entertained and communicate, this year's Childnet Award winners are being much more innovative and discovering the true worth of the Net to change our world for the better."

For example another project on the winners shortlist is Flat Stanley, from Canada. Flat Stanley enabled children to donate books and food to those with Leprosy in Brazil. The site encourages children at different schools in over 15 countries to exchange experiences, including photographs of a paper character called Stanley who comes alive through the Internet.

One of this year's Childnet Award judges, Trond Waage, the Norwegian Ombudsman for Children, says, "At a time when there is less "public space" in which children can express their feelings about their lives, we are seeing in the Childnet Awards how children are using the Net to share their lives, create and inspire others and form a new online 'community' which is not restricted to national boundaries."

The Awards have been sponsored by Cable and Wireless plc since 1997. Stephen Pettit, Executive Director of Corporate Development and one of the Awards judges says, "Cable & Wireless is delighted to be involved with Childnet, which is working so hard to improve the lives and promote the interests of children around the world. As one of the Awards judges I never fail to be surprised at both the variety and quality of the entries which are a tribute to the young people involved."

Further sponsorship for the 2001 Awards has come from Alcatel who have sponsored the Government category award this year.

The full list of categories and winning sites can be seen at: http://www.childnet-int.org/awards/press/index

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Nigel Williams 020 7 639 6967 nigel@childnet-int.org or
Stephen Carrick-Davies ( Mobile 0771 245 1859) stephen@childnet-int.org