Students Harness Internet for a Better World

Article by Janice E. Clark
Bureau of Public Affairs
September 28, 2006

Can a website help solve some of the world�s challenges? A student team from Macedonia thinks so. Their website, entitled �Fight Poverty,� explores child poverty and ways in which international relations can address the problems that contribute to it. �We can�t eradicate child poverty with this website, but we can raise awareness,� said Elena, one of the student team members.

�Fight Poverty� stood out among more than 300 entries from 46 countries in this year�s Doors to Diplomacy contest. �Doors� is a collaborative effort between the State Department and Global SchoolNet, a non-profit, Internet-based education program. The Doors to Diplomacy Award was specially created for CyberFair, a contest that encourages students and educators to join together to build high-quality, educational websites on a variety of topics. These websites are available as learning tools to millions of people around the globe.
The "Fight Poverty" website (right) was one of the winning sites from the 2006 Doors to Diplomacy contest.

�Fight Poverty�s� animated introduction includes photos of children living in dire conditions, and is accompanied by haunting music that grabs a viewer�s attention.

In addition to a stimulating visual impact, the site is chockablock with information and analysis of cause and effect�for example, the high cost of living and lack of education versus homelessness, AIDS, and human trafficking. The site also includes an electronic bulletin board that gathers feedback from around the world. Some of the feedback offers specific ideas and solutions.

In Washington, DC for a visit sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Skopje and the Macedonian Government, the students and their coach had a chance to talk about their research and their country�s future when they met with Paul Pfeuffer, the State Department�s desk officer for Macedonia. Pfeuffer applauded the country�s progress, acknowledging that its impact in the southeast European region is greater than its small size might indicate. �You�re hitting above your weight,� he said, borrowing an expression used for boxing competitors who compete successfully in a weight class above those for which they qualify. Pfeuffer suggested that Macedonia needs to work to attract foreign investment, which in turn will reduce unemployment.
Macedonian students and teacher (left) while on a tour of the State Department. State Department Photo.

This sort of dialogue is just what �Fight Poverty� hoped to engender. By developing an engaging, interactive website, the team made the challenging issue of poverty accessible to millions to view, digest, and respond to.

Two of the team members are starting university this fall, but they all plan to stay in touch and continue updating and improving their work. To borrow a quote from the site�s project narrative, the team has �a responsibility and ambition to make the world a better place by reducing child poverty as much as they can with their pure hearts and a simple desire to do something for mankind.�