Imagine how lively a classroom debate on immigration, rainforests or HIV/AIDS would be if teachers and pupils could link up with their peers in Ghana or Ecuador and get their opinions on the subject! Now, apply that thought to the school curriculum and you capture the essence of the Global Teenager project (GTP).

The Global Teenager project is a rapidly expanding virtual network of secondary schools in both the developing and developed world and an upcoming generation of information-literate, knowledge-oriented, culturally-aware individuals.

The project enables classroom discussions to 'go global'. It gives secondary schools a kick-start in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and it offers students a safe, structured environment in which to discuss global issues. It also provides valuable insights into other cultures and it livens up the whole teaching process as teachers incorporate new ideas and methods into their classes.

Today, Global Teenager involves almost 10,000 pupils from 300 schools over 32 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

The Global Teenager Project was launched in 1998 by IICD to meet the ICT needs of students, teachers and secondary schools. Pupils embrace the project because it makes learning fun and enables them to meet their peers all over the world as never before. Teachers are inspired because it provides a new and exciting way to deliver lessons. Schools are pleased because it uses ICT infrastructure to reach curricular goals.

The project is designed in such a way that it can be integrated in the school curriculum. The main activities in the project are Learning Circles and Understanding Diversity.

In May 2008 IICD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dutch foundation The Round Table to host and coordinate Global Teenager Project activities for the next three years.

To learn more about the project in and follow all communication, go to www.globalteenager.org. Also read more about the GTP Chat Competition (Nov. 2007) and the annual Johan Kooij Fellowship (June 2008).