Nayef, 17, The Palestinian Territories

Basic need(s):

Education

Project:

Youths Online

Nayef learned of the power of the Internet when, at 14 years-old, he was tasked by his local Children Happiness Center to create their website. After the site's completion, Nayef was left impressed with his own capabilities and overwhelmed by the interconnectivity he found at his fingertips. An active participant in community service, Nayef saw an opportunity to expand his efforts using his new technological skill set. He created a website of his own, Youth Online, to establish a safe place for young people from around the world to chat, share opinions, and raise issues regarding social issues, current events, and charitable efforts. By creating this forum, Nayef has brought forward-thinking youth activists together over cultural and geographical boundaries and has provided a platform for them to spread the word and gain support for a number of projects. Appropriately, Nayef admires Bill Gates for his strides in both technology and philanthropy.