Seventeen Tech Age Teens participants were selected to participate in the 2011 Summer Finalists’ Conference due to their dedication during training sessions, IT skill building activities, and performance during a number of community service opportunities, including Global Youth Service Day. The conference, which took place between August 22 and 30 at the G. Slanov Library in Atyrau, focused on increasing and combining the knowledge TAT participants gained over the course of the program in leadership and information and communication technology (ICT), to develop their fall community service projects. For eight hours each day during the conference, working individually and in groups, the finalists learned to conduct community research and needs assessment, brainstormed solutions to problems in their community, and designed project goals and workplans. During additional sessions, the finalists learned how to promote their ideas, connect with others for support, and promote awareness of social issues using social networking and new media tools. Following the conference, they continue their work, implementing self-designed service projects to benefit their community. Two examples of the TAT’s summer community work: TAT 2011 participant Ubolsyn Shyngalieva has been passionate about chess since her childhood, and wanted to share in the enjoyment of the intellectually stimulating game with youth in her community. Leveraging leadership and IT skills she developed in TAT, she started a chess club with regular lessons for underprivileged youth, and launched a Kazakh-language website with video strategy guides. Noting the great demand for more English lessons at her school, Gaziza Uteshkaliyeva created an English language club for her fellow students in the third through fifth grades, meeting twice a week for 90 minutes to learn new words, and develop a beginning mastery of the English alphabet and pronunciations. Using her TAT-gained IT skills, Uteshkaliyeva created a club website where photos and videos of their activities are available.
Good luck for you Stanley. ^^My vote is for mediaCoder.Your program is one of the best ones that aldaery I used and its support is very good. Thanks a lot. Obrigado.