200+ young web developers seek a place in the new Cable & Wireless Childnet Academy January 2004

Childnet International, the children’s Internet charity is pleased to announce that the inaugural Cable & Wireless Childnet Academy www.childnetacademy.org has received almost 250 entries from a worldwide geographical spread.

Entries to the Cable & Wireless Academy have now closed and this year’s pilot Academy programme has seen entries from countries such as Australia, Barbados, Canada, Egypt, Finland, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

The team at Childnet have been impressed by the superb quality of entries. Short listing is now under way. An international panel of judges will meet in London in mid February to deliberate over the short list and the winners will be announced on the 16th of February 2004. There will be three winners from each of the following categories: New to the Net, Schools, Not for Profit and Individual. Young people from Panama, Barbados, and Jamaica will attend the Academy week as special guests of the Academy.

Winners will fly to London in the spring to take part in the Academy week where they will meet other young people from all around the world and have access to web support, technical advice and leadership training.

Tanya Eddowes, The Cable & Wireless Academy Coordinator, says:

"This exciting and innovative programme will see the meeting of like-minded Internet savvy young people from all around the world in London this spring. The young people will have the opportunity to share their projects and ideas with one and other as well has experiment with and learn about new digital technologies."