NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY AND COOK LAUNCH YOUTHLINKS
December 14, 1999 (10:40 a.m. EST) No. 271
AXWORTHY AND COOK LAUNCH YOUTHLINKS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today officially launched YouthLinks, a new Web-based learning tool
bringing Canadian and international students together in a unique interactive environment. For this occasion,
Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Right Honourable Robin Cook, joined
Mr. Axworthy at Canada House in London, to establish a live link between Churchill High School, in Winnipeg,
and Inveralmond High School, in Edinburgh -- the Ministers' respective constituencies.
YouthLinks is a joint pilot project between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
and Historica, a new foundation for Canadian history. YouthLinks will connect designated high schools in
Canada with high schools in England and Germany through the use of new technologies, and will focus on
Canadian history.
"Sharing our history, as well as knowing the history of our international partners, is essential to the
development of a well-educated youth, conscious of the importance of the diversity of cultures and
backgrounds that shapes their reality," said Mr. Axworthy. YouthLinks will bring this international perspective to
students, educators, and teachers, and engage them in issues of international importance such as human
security, human rights, and war-affected children."
"I am delighted that the Inveralmond High School will be participating in this project," said Foreign Secretary
Cook. "At a national and governmental level, we already have close co-operation between Canada and the
United Kingdom. Lloyd Axworthy and I have worked closely together on a range of issues where a spirit of
friendship and respect has ensured a successful outcome. YouthLinks International will build on this
relationship. A network of schools across Canada, Germany, the U.K. and, I hope, other countries, will facilitate
links and encourage friendship between the nations. A new generation of 'diplomats' will be able to exchange
ideas, explore common difficulties and find common solutions. It is a wonderful initiative and I am sure that it
will be a great success."
Under the creative direction of Bitcasters, a Toronto-based new media company, in collaboration with Intellia of
Montreal, the hosted Web site www.youthlinks.org
will consist of links to a wide variety of resources and activities available to project participants.
DFAIT provided $250 000 in funding to YouthLinks through the International Cultural Relations Program, which
supports initiatives undertaken abroad in the arts and higher education.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1999 federal budget and is therefore built into the
existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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