Michael Furdyk: Empowerment through Technology

Michael Furdyk, one of North America’s leading technology entrepreneurs, closed out the presentations for PUSH 2008 discussing the challenges we face and how technology can empower us to improve health, the environment and education.

Furdyk started his career in technology before he entered high school – he launched his first web site in eighth grade. He has co-founded and sold two successful internet-based companies- Mydesktop.com and buybuddy.com. His most recent venture is TakingITGlobal, which connects youth globally and helps them get involved in projects to better their local and global communities – changes that are affecting the planet.

“If we can inspire them at the right age there is no amount of change that can’t happen,” said Furdyk.

Furdyk and his partner developed the idea of a web site where people could go to learn about global issues. That was the start of TakingITGlobal.com. It was the world’s first social network for social good.

TakingITGlobal developed training programs for teachers and students. At a school in West Philadelphia TakingITGlobal gave a laptop to every child and introduced a social network that exposed peers around the world. Teachers said that many of the students became unlikely friends. They created bonds across the country and world with the people they had met through the site.

In 2006 almost one half of students dropped out of high school because they were bored. 90 percent of dropouts were passing students. What is wrong with that? TakingITGlobal works to teach students in a fun, challenging way to keep them intrigued. If the dropout rate is lowered 1/5, the U.S. would save 18 billion dollars annually.

TakingITGlobal has many different features to fulfill its mission – to inspire, inform and involve. Features include: a global gallery, Commit to a Better World, downloadable guides to action, educational classroom games, a page on issues and lastly 3.5 million pages about countries, states and cities around the world.

The user base of TakingITGlobal is worldwide and only increasing. Thirty-one percent of users are from North America, 22 percent of users are in Africa and 20 percent of users are in Asia. TakingITGlobal is working to make information available off-line, by SMS text messages and textbooks – textbooks will reach 8 million people in the next decade.

Studies show that on average teenagers are as competent as adults. There is a proven link between their being treated as a child and behavioral problems. Young people are capable and competent – teachers need to engage them because they have great ideas.

TakingITGlobal has been on-line for eight years. 2.5 million people used the site in 2007. The site is available in 12 languages. It has had 250,000 downloads and over 35,000 actions have been taken through the site in a six month period. Youth are engaged from every country on the planet.

If young people are learning this much from TakingITGlobal and becoming involved with important global issues, think about how it is going to change the world.

Posted by Melissa Turtinen