Thirty Teen Leaders from Around the World Travel to New York for “Just Peace” Summit New York, NY (March 16, 2008) — Three Dot Dash, a global initiative of the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) designed to recognize and support the efforts of teen leaders around the world, will hold its first annual Just Peace Summit in New York City from March 29 – April 4, 2008. Carefully selected Global Teen Leaders from around the world will unite at this weeklong summit to share experiences from their efforts to promote a more peaceful society by addressing issues related to the basic human needs, food, water, health, shelter, safety and education learn how to communicate their global message through creative communications and collaborate on a multi-platform public service campaign that will be distributed globally to promote their work. The 2008 Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders are between the ages of 12-19 and represent 18 countries and 5 continents around the world. They were nominated by a coalition of more than 40 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other qualified organizations that have agreed to help build and sustain the Three Dot Dash initiative. From health education initiatives to programs that help combat the climate crisis and entrepreneurial agriculture models that give young women in Kenya an alternative to prostitution the individual Teen Leaders have birthed projects that will help promote positive change and peace. The Summit will kick off with an opening event on March 29th that will include a conversation with Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone and Ian Stewart, AP reporter and author of Ambushed, a War Reporter Life on the Line. The ceremony will set the tone for a week of open communication, understanding and powerful story telling. Throughout the course of the 2008 Just Peace Summit, each of the thirty Global Teen Leaders will be mentored by Three Dot Dash instructors led by Nile Rodgers musician, producer and founder of WAFF. Joining the team will be thought leaders from a variety of disciplines and will include The Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger, famed Vanity Fair photographer Teun Voeten, Oscar nominated Jamal Joseph, Chairman of Columbia University’s Graduate Film Division and Derrick Ashong, activist, entrepreneur, and actor, featured in “Amistad.” These volunteers will provide guidance and help the Teen Leaders hone their communication and creative skills during the Summit . Additionally, at the end of the week each teen leader will have created a PSA that will help further their individual projects while amplifying their collective message of peace. Consumers will have the opportunity to donate funds to the Teen Leaders’ peace projects at http://www.threedotdash.org www.threedotdash.org . About Three Dot Dash Three Dot Dash is a global peace initiative of the We Are Family Foundation designed to recognize and support Global Teen Leaders around the world who are dedicating their lives to promote a more peaceful society by addressing issues related to basic human needs. The movement is creating a worldwide network of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to further the efforts of these young leaders by harnessing the power of media, mentoring, and social networking to foster public participation around the globe. Three Dot Dash was inspired by the late 13-year-old poet and peacemaker Mattie J.T. Stepanek, well known from his six New York Times best selling “Heartsongs” poetry books expressing universal messages of hope and peace. After Mattie’s death in 2004, his last book, Just Peace: A Message of Hope, written with Jimmy Carter, was published and became WAFF’s inspiration for Three Dot Dash. About We Are Family Foundation The “We Are Family Project” began in response to the tragic events of September 11th. Legendary songwriter/producer Nile Rodgers and Tommy Boy Music president, Tom Silverman gathered 200 celebrities on the weekend of September 22nd to re-record Nile ‘s world renowned hit song “We Are Family” to commence the healing process. The recording sessions that weekend again proved the song’s power to give hope and allow people to feel better through an uplifting beat and a message of unity. The event was captured on film as a documentary by director Danny Schechter entitled The Making and Meaning of We Are Family and a music video by director Spike Lee. Nile had no idea that the hit song he and his late music partner Bernard Edwards wrote for Sister Sledge in 1979 would be a part of history again by helping to bring people together and give hope that we can live together in a peaceful world. The We Are Family Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization was formed in 2002 to promote diversity, understanding, respect and the vision of a global family. For more information on the foundation, visit http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org www.wearefamilyfoundation.org . About Three Dot Dash Coalition Partners WAFF thanks the Three Dot Dash coalition and corporate sponsors for their partnership and spirit: 92ndStreet Y, AFS Intercultural Programs, Alliance For A New Humanity, Americans for Informed Democracy, American Jewish World Service, Anti-Defamation League, Ashoka, Asia Society, Bright Media, Building with Books, Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa, CHINH, Culture Project, Echoing Green, Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, Inc., Gibson Foundation, Give to Colombia, Global Kids, Inc., Global Nomads Group, Global Peace Hut, Global Peace Initiative of Women, Global Youth Action Network, iEarn-USA, IMPACT Repertory Theatre, International Childrens Digital Library Foundation, International Debate Education Association, International Youth Foundation, The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, Journeys for Peace, Listen Up!, Mattie J.T. Stepanek King Farm Foundation, One World Youth Project, Public-Private Alliance Foundation, Symphonia, TakingITGlobal, The Tomorrow Trust UN Programme on Youth, UNA-USA, UNESCO, Urban Farming, US Fund for UNICEF, Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship, WITNESS, Workers World Media Productions, Youth Bridge-NY, Youth Erin Tricia Mycroft, 13, South Africa Basic need(s): Health Project: “The Chaeli Campaign” When Erin’s younger sister Chaeli, who has cerebral palsy, was placed in a mainstream school at the age of 9, she needed the help of a motorized wheelchair to increase her independence. This led Erin, Chaeli and three of their friends to join together to raise money for the needed wheelchair. In just seven weeks they raised more than enough money and decided to help provide assistive devices to other children with disabilities. This led to the creation of “The Chaeli Campaign”, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing the minds and bodies of children with disabilities in South Africa . Since the project began, it has helped provide more than 150 children with custom-made assistive devices, has put over 85 children in support therapy programs, and has inspired countless adults and children to rethink their views about people with disabilities. “The Chaeli Campaign” recently opened its own headquarters and hopes to open its own therapy center soon. David Zuluaga, 18, Colombia Basic need(s): Safety, Health, Education Project: Facilitating reconciliation and social integration of demobilized Colombian combatants As a fourth generation member of a prominent Colombian family, David maintains that personal wealth should compel one to promote and protect the well-being of those in need. He also believes that lack of education perpetuates poverty and violence, and has worked to improve the quality of education in one of Colombia’s schools. David has been involved in philanthropy since he was a child and founded the first Youth Congress in Colombia , which promotes youth social responsibility. His most recent project focuses on furthering the process of reconciliation and social integration of demobilized Colombian combatants by improving their access to state officials who handle the demobilization system. He also attends to the individual needs of demobilized people by supporting and advising them on important issues mainly health care and national identity documents. David hopes that his project will demonstrate to the Colombian people the importance of forgiving and helping demobilized citizens reintegrate into society. Sebastian Roberts, 18, Canada Basic need(s): Health, Education Project: Providing sports equipment and training to Ugandan youth Sebastian believes in the importance of group sports for promoting cooperation, improving health, developing self-confidence and providing recreation, particularly to those living in poverty and the war-torn regions of Uganda . In 2006, he organized fundraising efforts to purchase 300 pounds of sporting equipment and to fund shipment of the equipment to Uganda . Sebastian traveled to Uganda to distribute the goods and to provide sports education to the Ugandan children. He just returned from another three-month journey to Uganda to distribute over 400 pounds of sports equipment and to educate the youth in sports and sportsmanship. Sebastian hopes to expand his project globally and eventually to build a community center in Uganda that will include educational and health-related facilities. Mousa Nouri Mosa Al Mosawy, 16, Jordan Basic need(s): Health, Education Project: Sending first-aid kits to Iraqis in conflict areas As an Iraqi living in Jordan, Mousa is troubled that so many Iraqis are dying of simple wounds because they do not receive proper care nor have access to hygienic products. To combat this issue, Mousa sends first-aid kits with instructions and information on ways to avoid infection to families living in Iraqi conflict areas. He has had to overcome many medical obstacles himself due to a disability, and he hopes to prevent others from facing serious health problems. As a result of his project, his classmates have become more directly involved in community and global issues and are working together to further the project’s mission. Mousa hopes to motivate Iraqis and Jordanians to be more open-minded and tolerant, while also motivating both countries to become more handicap-accessible. Siddharth Aalam Bayan, 15, India Basic need(s): Education, Water, Health Project: Tutoring impoverished children and acquiring water taps and sanitation facilities for their community The area near Siddharth’s house is full of uneducated children who live in very poor and unhygienic conditions, with no sanitation facilities and only two water taps for the large community. One day, Siddharth decided to sit with the uneducated children and give them old books and comic books, but he learned that the children could not read. Siddharth took this opportunity to tell them about the benefits of education in order to motivate them to attend school. Now he regularly tutors the children on weekends and holidays and has convinced many to attend school. Inspired by this successful experience, Siddharth advocated for government-funded water taps and sanitation facilities. The community now has access to eight taps and four mobile toilets. Siddharth hopes to extend his outreach efforts to help eradicate poverty and improve living standards in India .
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