Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Cross Post from Students Helping Haiti Blog

The "Students Helping Haiti" Blog is now posted at http://studentshelpinghaiti.blogspot.com and we're looking for student journalists to contribute! This is a cross-post from that blog about the February 19th event and what you can expect!

Join the International Webcast Event on February 19th!

On Friday, February 19, 2010, students and educators everywhere will participate in a ground-breaking three-hour virtual event called “The Crisis in Haiti: What Can YOU Do to Help?” This unique live program features presentation from students around the world via high-speed videoconference, along with scientists and agency representatives from federal and non-profit organizations worldwide all focused on what can still be done to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

“The Crisis in Haiti: What Can YOU Do to Help?” project is made available through MAGPI with support from The World Food Program, National Youth Leadership Council, Oxfam America, Philadelphia Global Water Initiative, Global Nomads, The Exploratorium Science Center, Multicultural Youth Exchange, Florida International University, CIARA, University of Porto, the University of Pennsylvania, and Tandberg.

The live student presentations range in format from musical presentations including first grade students in Ponder, Texas singing “Put A Little Love in Your Heart” to student-created digital projects such as the “Sending Love from Taiwan” video created by high school students at National Dali High School in Dali City, Taiwan. Additional student presentations will be given by primary and secondary schools from all corners of the world.

In addition to the student presentations, the schedule includes presentations from agency representatives and researchers from global and local organizations including: The Word Food Program on their response to the crisis in Haiti; scientists from the Exploratorium Science Center in San Francisco, California who will be explaining “The Big Picture” on the geology of Haiti that contributed to the catastrophic event; Oxfam representatives on their efforts to rebuild; representatives from Global Nomads will be announcing their new $500,000 challenge grant for students to help rebuild schools in Haiti; a local scientist from the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative on the water and sanitation challenges; a presentation on Political, Social and Infrastructure Issues in Haiti by Florida International University; and The Center for High-Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania offering smart philanthropic ways to help Haiti’s earthquake victims.

The Feb. 19th “The Crisis in Haiti: What Can YOU Do to Help?” will be viewable by the public at large through a live webstream available on the event webpage at http://www.magpi.net/Community/Programs/Crisis-Haiti-What-Can-YOU-Do-Help. Schools and library organizations are also encouraged to broadcast the live webstream in public areas within their communities to further stimulate awareness. Schools and individuals are also invited to communicate via social networking platforms, facilitating interaction between students worldwide in a global youth response to this crisis.

You can also view and download the entire presentation line-up through Google Docs.

We're looking forward to having you and your students join us!

Friday, February 5, 2010

International Webcast and Call for Student Bloggers/Tweeters!

THE CRISIS IN HAITI: What can YOU do to help?
Students around the world respond

Date: Friday, February 19, 2010

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST (Webstream will be active 10 minutes prior to start of the program)

Audience: K12 Students, University and College Students, Non-Profit and Cultural Institutions

More Information/Links of Interest/Program Line-Up: http://www.magpi.net/Community/Programs/Crisis-Haiti-What-Can-YOU-Do-Help

Webstream URL: http://beansidhe.isc-net.upenn.edu:8080/ramgen/encoder/haiti.rm

How to Connect to the Webstream: To view the webstream, you must have Real Player installed on your computer (version 8 or higher). Please see technical requirements and testing information on the program webpage. For technical support, please contact video@isc.upenn.edu.

The earthquake in Haiti shattered lives, devastating a country - - and the world responded. Most importantly, youth responded in innovative and amazing ways. Join schools around the world for this groundbreaking international videoconference and webcast to hear what youth are doing to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. You'll also hear from aid organizations who are continually responding to the tragedy and experts that will help students understand the unique circumstances contributing to the tragedy. For the complete program presentation line-up, please visit: http://www.magpi.net/Community/Programs/Crisis-Haiti-What-Can-YOU-Do-Help.

Join us for this ground breaking event and GET INVOLVED. We encourage you to stream the program in your school, collect change and donations, and donate to one of the aid organizations participating in the program. Or simply just tune in and be inspired by what others are doing - - and then create your own project. If you're already involved in a project, let us know through Twitter®, send us a link to your blog entry or add your photos to our online album. We're looking forward to having you and your students get involved!

One person can make an impact. Imagine what we all can do together.

Be a Live Blogger or Tweeter!
Help us get the word out and tell us what you’re doing to help Haiti via Twitter®. All you need is a Twitter® account and a computer with an internet connection! You can get an account at www.twitter.com. Sign on to your account during the webcast, follow magpik20, and tweet what you’re going to do to help - - just make sure you end your tweet with #kidshelphaiti. We will randomly select tweeters to receive some fantastic giveaways from our sponsors. The more you tweet, the better your chances are of being selected for a giveaway!

If your school has a blog, we would love for your students to be live bloggers during the event. Simply send an email to hweisse@magpi.net to let us know you're interested in live blogging. We'll post a link to your blog on this site and post brief bio information about all our featured bloggers! (You'll also get mentions and links on Twitter as the event is in progress!). Every live blog entry entitles you to a chance to win a giveaway, too.

Add your photos to our online album!
We’ve created an album on Google’s Picasa called “Kids Help Haiti.” You can view the album at http://picasaweb.google.com/magpik20/KidsHelpHaiti#. If you have photos to contribute (and we’d love to have them!), please email hweisse@magpi.net and asked to be added as an album contributor. You’ll then be able to email your photos to the online, public album. Won’t it be cool to see all of the images emerge on the album map and see what students everywhere are doing to help?