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Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo

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Pakistan has been devastated by the worst floods in 80 years, killing at least 1600 people, and affecting over 13 million more.

If you would like to assist in relief efforts, please consider donating to UNICEF: http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=6161181

To discuss this topic and share updates on the relief efforts please visit our group blog: http://www.tigblog.org/group/PakistanFloods

August 12 is International Youth Day, a day to celebrate youth and their abilities to create social change around the world! We asked our multilingual community for their input on what International youth day means to them. Check out their inspiring comments below:

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Mahsa Taheran
Farsi Language Engagement Coordinator

- How should we celebrate youth as global leaders?
Giving them opportunity to execute their ideas is one way to celebrate youth. Giving them the opportunity to be heard is also important. And recognizing their contributions, even small, is necessary.

- How do you create change in your community?
Well…It’s not easy at all. Change is not very appealing to the governing system in my home country. Attempting to create change in fundamental issues is a threat to personal life in the current political environment. Fortunately, youth are brave enough to attempt. And this is a good occasion to appreciate the efforts of those who lost their lives or are imprisoned for attempting change.
The best way to create any change in a community where the flow of information is controlled to satisfy the corrupt governing system; the best way to create change is to inform. Where having a NGO is difficult, and free media is not accessible, the best asset is going among people and spreading information.

-How do you celebrate your culture?
By criticizing it and improving it by removing negative traditions and ideas, and to strengthen the beneficial ones. Also by introducing it to the world, learning about it, and by improving my mother tongue.

***

Jessica Zou
Chinese Language Engagement Coordinator

-How should we celebrate youth as global leaders?
It will be great if we can host a festival designed specifically for youth as global leaders. A virtual conference/festival is indeed possible. By participating in the conference, the youth from all around the world can gather together to exchange their experiences as global leaders and to learn from one another.

-How do you create change in your community?
There are a variety of ways that the youth can utilize to create positive changes in their communities. Volunteering is one of the best ways. By helping people, harmony can be established. Starting community projects is beneficial, too. In this way, not only can the youth acquire skills such as leadership and cooperation, they can also contribute to making the communities better places.

-How do you celebrate your culture?
I celebrate the traditional Chinese festivals like Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. In addition, I eat and learn how to cook traditional Chinese food, since food is an inseparable part of a unique culture.

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M'Bahia N'Guessan
Online Volunteer Translator (French)

-How do you create change in your community?
By building school libraries in primary schools and high schools, as well as a public library in every town. Also, by training young people in the use of Informatino and Communication Technologies (ICT).

-What inspires you to be a leader?
Poverty and injustice.

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Elaine Castro
Portuguese Platform Editor

Jovem, em primeiro lugar, descubra seu talento, sua vocação, reserve tempo precioso para desvendar os segredos da sua existência desde cedo. Esse ato irá beneficiar imensamente uma maioria que, cega, vive sem um propósito maior, deixando tudo como sempre foi.

Faça como seu coração indicar, ajuda mais Sentir do que Saber!
Você será colocado na parede, pressionado, por aqueles que querem que tudo permaneça como está, você irá incomodar. Agarre-se ao que te faz renascer para seguir em frente nos piores momentos. Logo que conseguir, coloque em prática aquilo que acredita, tire do papel, do virtual, da idéia.

Não tente consertar um sistema esgotado, onde o homem explora o homem, ajude a construir uma nova maneira de viver, baseada na terra Sagrada, no amor, no respeito, na compreensão, no cuidado com a Natureza profunda.
Tudo está interligado!

Preservar para as próximas gerações é consequência natural de quem entende que não veio aqui para destruir! Não esqueça que sem Natureza, não existe vida Humana! Sem poesia também fica mais complicado. E que o mundo precisa oferecer oportunidades diversas e variadas, pois o ser humano assim está distribuído por todos os cantos desse Planeta.

Saiba Ser, o ter não leva a lugar algum.
Um ser humano não tem o direito de dominar o outro.
Conheça e valorize toda a riqueza do seu País, sua língua de origem, lugares, para depois interagir com outras culturas, se assim desejar. Um único País não pode querer dominar todos os outros.

Deixe a sensibilidade sempre à flor da pele, não guarde as lágrimas, siga com fé, coragem, esperança, sem agrotóxico, sem preconceitos, sem consumismo.

TakingITGlobal is grateful for the support of its dedicated online volunteers and celebrates their involvement with TIGStar, a monthly community award that recognizes two special volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have reached outstanding achievements as a result. This month’s TIG Stars are Lavinia and Elizabeth from the Romanian and Spanish teams. Read more about them here http://multilingual.tigweb.org/team.html or read Elizabeth’s interview below (in English and Spanish).

1. When did you become involved with TakingITGlobal’s online volunteer team? What motivated you to become an online volunteer?

Me involucre en el equipo de voluntarios de TIG en Agosto del 2009 como Spanish Language & Engagement Coordinator, después de haber participado en el Community Connectors Internship y en el equipo de Panorama en español. Me interesó participar más en TIG para poder ofrecer mayores oportunidades de participación y de acceso a otras herramientas para los jóvenes que solo hablan español.

I was involved witht the TIG volunteers team in August 2009 as a Spanish Language & Engagement Coordinator, after participating in the Community Connectors Internship and the Panorama Spanish Team. It interested me to get more involved with TIG to provide greater opportunity for participation and access to other tools for young people who only speak spanish.


2. What attracts you to your role as a volunteer?

El interactuar con otros jóvenes de diferentes países, el desarrollo multilinguistico y la oportunidad de contribuir al crecimiento de la plataforma en español.

Interacting with other young people from different countries, the multilingual development and the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the spanish platform.


3. What have you learned from the experience so far?

He aprendido la importancia de trabajar como equipo para tener éxito en nuestras tareas, además de que el interés y entusiasmo de los miembros del equipo en español me han inspirado en diversas formas.

I learned the importance of working as a team to succeed in our tasks, in addition to the interest and enthusiasm of the spanish team members that have inspired me in different ways.


4. What advice would you give other young people out there interested in becoming online volunteers?

Que lo intenten! Es muy satisfactorio contribuir al empoderamiento juvenil, ya que además de aportar se obtiene mucha retroalimentación.

Try it! It's very satisfying to contribute to youth empowerment, as well as providing you get feedback.


5. What are your overall thoughts on the experience?

A través de esta oportunidad he podido inspirarme, informarme e involucrarme con TIG y con muchas otras organizaciones, además de que el trabajo desarrollado por el equipo en español y por el equipo multilinguistico me han dejado una gran experiencia para seguir aprendiendo y contribuyendo.

Through this opportunity I have the chance to be inspired, informed and involved with TIG and with many other organizations, beside the work done by the spanish team and the multilingual team have left me a great experience to continue learning and contributing.

TakingITGlobal is grateful for the support of its dedicated online volunteers and celebrates their involvement with TIGStar, a monthly community award that recognizes two special volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have reached outstanding achievements as a result. This month’s TIG Stars are Amirul and Pascal from the Bengali and French teams. Read more about them here http://multilingual.tigweb.org/team.html or read Pascal’s interview below (in English and French).

Questions:
1. When did you become involved with TakingITGlobal’s online volunteer
team? What motivated you to become an online volunteer?

My involvement dates back to 2005, when I first signed up to become a
TakingITGlobal member. At the time, I wanted to be part of a global
community and was intrigued by the opportunity to reach out to and connect with several young leaders across the world, as well as to also act and share while learning from others.

Je pense que mon implication dans l'équipe de volontaire de TakingITGlobal a commencé lorsque je me suis inscris comme membre dans le site en 2005.
J'avais la motivation d'appartenir à un environnement mondial,
l'opportunité de me connecter et d'atteindre plusieurs jeunes à travers le monde, en même temps qu'agir et partager tout en apprenant des expériences des autres.


2. What attracts you to your role as a volunteer?
I have been volunteering in my country since I was a teenager. It feels good to contribute to change and support the community through our personal involvement.

Depuis l'adolescence, je mène des activités au sein des associations dans mon pays. C'est un sentiment agréable de contribuer au développement et soutenir d'autres personnes en utilisant notre petite expérience.

3. What have you learned from the experience so far?
That volunteering is an excellent experience and that it's always good to lend a hand. All it takes is to give a few hours of our time to support an initiative that help others or to share our knowledge. As a volunteer you are really connected to many other people who, in turn, share their inspiring experiences with you.

C’est une très bonne expérience, c'est toujours agréable d'aider. Nous
pouvons juste un peu de notre temps pour soutenir certaines initiatives
pour aider d'autres, ou partager notre savoir. Et en tant que volontaire, vous êtes réellement connecté à plusieurs personnes qui partagent leurs expériences avec vous.

4. What advice would you give other young people out there interested in becoming online volunteers?
My advice is 'do not hesitate, go for it.' Being an online volunteer for TakingITGlobal is a great opportunity to have a global impact, to learn new things, and to become involved in global issues.

Le conseil que je peux donner à ceux qui souhaitent devenir volontaire en ligne avec TakingITGlobal c'est "N'hésitez pas, allez-y!!!" C'est une bonne opportunité pour avoir un impact global, d'apprendre, et de
s'impliquer dans les enjeux mondiaux.



5. What are your overall thoughts on the experience?
Volunteering is a reflection of our humanity.
C'est bien d'être volontaire, c'est le reflet de notre raison humaine.