IYF and mmO2, a leading European provider of mobile communications services, announced a new partnership in July 2003 to support an innovative multi-country program of positive youth development. Called “What Youth Can Do”, the program aims to empower young people by fostering educational achievement, technological innovation, life skills and citizenship. Chosen by mmO2 as its “Charity of the Year”, IYF and its partner organizations in Ireland, Germany and the United Kingdom will work with the mmO2 businesses and employees on projects that seek to improve the conditions and prospects for young people and their communities.

In Ireland, mmO2 will support the “Communications and Information Technology for Youth”, or “CITY”, project, for underserved and at-risk young people ages 10 to 19. The project, managed by the Irish Youth Foundation (IrYF), provides supervised computer access to e-mail, Internet surfing, homework and school projects for youth growing up in an area of considerable deprivation. Young people will learn valuable technology skills, and “skills for life,” including leadership, communication, teamwork, and respect for themselves and others. mmO2 will also explore with IrYF the potential for using mobile communications to enhance the learning environment for the young people involved.

Projects addressing positive youth development will also be delivered in Germany and the UK. The German project, SCHOLA-21, is an Internet-based learning initiative that connects young people in different countries by enabling them to work together on projects. SCHOLA-21 aims to support young people in developing a range of skills including literacy, communication, multi-cultural understanding and citizenship. The UK project focuses on young people at risk of becoming homeless, aiming to equip them with critical life skills to encourage independence and promote their employability.

mmO2 employees will be involved at several levels – sharing their technical expertise, providing mentoring support, and integrating access to mmO2’s advanced technology into the projects to enhance their effectiveness.

The IYF/mmO2 partnership “What Youth Can Do” is a part of “Can Do in the Community,” mmO2’s program to embed responsibility to the community into its business. More information on mmO2 can be found at http://www.mmo2.com/docs/home.html.