Press releases (english)

MORE THAN 70 PROJECTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVED A GRANT UNDER THE MAKE A CONNECTION PROGRAMME

The third year of the project shows a record number of submitted projects.

Nokia and the Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje občanské společnosti - NROS) have announced today at their press conference that the third year of the Make a Connection programme would support 75 winning projects receiving grants exceeding in total 1 800 000CZK. Teams of young people aged 16 to 24 from five regions of the Czech Republic will have an opportunity to implement their own projects and thus help their communities.

The third year of the programme attracted a total of 204 projects which is almost by 50 more than in the previous year (there were 156 applications last year, 126 applications in the first year). The projects focus on various fields ranging from renovation of historical sights, an amateur theatre and environmental education, through leisure time activities for minorities and drug prevention projects, to assistance for the disabled, seniors or children in children's homes.

"We were pleased to see the growing interest of young people in this programme last year," said Matti Palomäki, Managing Director of Nokia Czech Republic. "And we are very pleasantly surprised by the response and interest this current year. It only confirms that young people are not indifferent to their communities and that they want to actively participate in their improvement."

Besides the grant which may amount up to CZK 50,000 the young people will also undergo a several-day interactive training in which they will master basic skills and capabilities needed for project management.

"These trainings in particular were very positively received by the young people in the past years of the programme," said Hana Šilhanová, Director of the Civic Society Development Foundation, and added: "We were in particularly delighted that thanks to this experience and impulses some of the young people managed to obtain funds for the follow-up of their projects and activities also form other sources - for example from private donors, local communities, etc."

A two-round evaluation system was used again for selection of the best projects, which ensures maximum transparency. All projects within one region were delivered to regional evaluation committees, which comprised representatives of public administration, schools, media, and the non-profit and business sectors. Recommendations of the regional committees were discussed in May by the principal evaluation committee, which made decisions on all the projects from the whole Czech Republic and selected the final number of project teams that will receive grants for the third year of the Make a Connection programme.

About Make a Connection in the Czech Republic
Make a Connection, the joint programme of the Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje občanské společnosti - NROS) and Nokia, was launched in the Czech Republic in April 2002. It is implemented in five regions of the Czech Republic. The Civic Society Development Foundation is responsible for the overall organisation and co-ordination of the programme; at the regional level, the implementing role was entrusted to the following non-profit organisations: Hurá Kamarád in the Pardubice region, VITA in the Moravia-Silesia region, Ratolest in the South Moravia region, Dobrovolnické centrum in the Ústí nad Labem region, and Hestia - Národní dobrovolnické centrum in Prague. The sixth partner is the Tereza Maxová Foundation, which implements the programme at children's homes all over the country. Actress and singer Zuzana Norisová remains the programme's patron also for the third year. More information on Make a Connection in the Czech Republic can be found at www.pripojse.cz (www.makeaconnection.cz).

About Make a Connection
Make a Connection is a global initiative of the International Youth Foundation and Nokia to promote positive youth development by giving young people an opportunity to make a connection to their communities, to their families and peers, and to themselves. The programme improves young people's educational opportunities, teaches them life skills and helps them make a positive contribution to their societies. Country programmes are currently running in Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. More information on Make a Connection can be found at www.makeaconnection.org.

About the Civic Society Development Foundation
The Civic Society Development Foundation (Nadace rozvoje občanské společnosti - NROS) makes efforts to strengthen the non-profit sector in the Czech Republic through philanthropy and voluntary work and through projects that make a contribution to the development of a civic society and the European integration. The foundation supports non-profit organisations that work with vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, defend human rights, democratic values, tolerance and respect of minority rights, or otherwise increase awareness on such issues among fellow citizens. One of the Foundation's target groups is children and young people. Thanks to the experience with a number of projects aimed at children and young people, the Civic Society Development Foundation has the needed know-how and qualification for successful implementation of the Make a Connection programme in the Czech Republic in co-operation with the International Youth Foundation and Nokia. More information on NROS can be found at www.nros.cz.

About the International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is dedicated to supporting programmes that improve the conditions and prospects for young people where they live, learn, work, and play. Since its founding in 1990, IYF has worked with hundreds of companies, foundations, and non-governmental organisations to scale up existing programmes and build long-term strategic partnerships. Currently operating in nearly 60 countries and territories, IYF and its partners have helped millions of young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. More information on IYF can be found at www.iyfnet.org.

About Nokia
Nokia is committed to having a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products and services the company creates. Through its cooperation with IYF and other regional philanthropic and social responsibility programmes, the company prepares young people to embrace opportunities and possibilities created by the global economy and new technological advancements. The company has been an active regional contributor to youth and education causes for many years, with Nokia employees making their own contributions as volunteers in a range of programmes throughout the world. More information on Nokia can be found at www.nokia.com.

Additional information:

NROS
Anna Onucová
+420 233 357 123
anna.onucova@nros.cz

Mmd
Hana Kučerová
+420 224 251 555
kucerova@mmd.cz