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NextGen Awards & Mentors
Vietnam Pilot
2007

www.nextgenawards.org

NEXTGEN is a unique multi-year initiative that brings together the world’s two most powerful resources to make a difference: young people and mobile phones!

The NEXTGEN mission is to inspire, mentor and network young people to develop innovative ideas and practical uses of mobile phones to help improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond. The national level NEXTGEN Awards Contests and the ongoing international NEXTGEN Mentors and Leaders Network focus on three Quality of Life areas that are critical to all countries:

- improving Health
- expanding Education
- sustaining the Environment

IMPLEMENTATION:
NEXTGEN is global in scope but grass roots in organization and impact. This multi-year initiative involves a unique combination of web enabled activities designed to have both near term and long term impact. NEXTGEN is organized to inspire young people and their increasingly mobile-phone centric talents through the following 3 programs:

1. The NEXTGEN Awards Contest open to all young people between ages of 13-20 in participating countries utilizing any level of mobile technology or service.
2. The follow up NEXTGEN Mentors Program matches local country winners with mentors to help them expand on their winning ideas and personal potential.
3. The ongoing NEXTGEN Leadership Network to promote and enable youth driven innovation and peer collaboration and education to develop new ideas and improve or expand current projects to benefit across borders, sectors and economic levels.

NEXTGEN countries are selected based on strong support from a diversity of local business, community and NGO leaders. Initial focus is on developing countries where both the needs and opportunity for impact are greatest.

IMPACT:
NEXTGEN is designed for both near-term and long-term impact. By combining the energies of caring and talented youth with the power, flexibility and reach of mobile phones, NEXTGEN actively promotes innovation and practical adaptation of mobile phones to help meet Quality of Life challenges even for those who do not themselves have mobile phones.

NEXTGEN’s combination of youth-oriented outreach at the grass roots level, peer recognition and cash prizes create immediate impact with concrete ideas, projects and rewards. Unlike most contests NEXTGEN is designed for a longer term impact through the follow on NEXTGEN Mentors Program and NEXTGEN Leaders Network. In addition to expanding educational, inspirational and expert advisory opportunities for the 30 country finalists as well as winners, the NEXTGEN Leaders Network is designed to facilitate collaboration and networking with other caring and talented young people. Because NEXTGEN works in partnership with others it can bring added value to a diversity of ongoing corporate, NGO and foundation activities focused on youth development, technology, and critical quality of life concerns such as health, education and the environment.

WHY VIETNAM?
Vietnam was selected for the NEXTGEN pilot because it is a developing country of both great opportunity and fast paced change. Vietnam has a buoyant economy with an 8.4% annual GDP growth, an estimated 90% literacy rate, and the 2nd fastest growing mobile phone market in the world. Vietnam also has a young population with more than half of its 85 million people under the age of 26. As the recent acceptance of Vietnam into the WTO and the hosting of the APEC 2006 Summit highlighted, Vietnam has great long term potential as both a strategic country and dynamic market. Vietnam’s young and educated population is its greatest asset.

Equally important to the demographics in the selection of Vietnam as the NEXTGEN pilot country is the outstanding grass roots leadership and commitment of highly respected corporate and civic leaders spearheaded by Tuan Anh Nguyen, Chairman of VASC and Kien Pham, CEO of Vietnam.net.

NEXTGEN CONTEST GUIDELINES (VIETNAM PILOT 2007):
The NEXTGEN Awards pilot contest is open to all young people living in Vietnam between the ages of 13 to 20. Contest entries may involve the use of any mobile phone technology or service from the most basic to the most futuristic.

Contest details, resource information and entry forms are widely accessible through our websites www.NextGenAwards.org or www.NextGenAwards.vn. Contest entries may be submitted in English or Vietnamese through the online websites, post, or e-mail. The entry deadline for the NEXTGEN Awards pilot in Vietnam is October 15, 2007.

All NEXTGEN Contestants (or teams of up to five) must designate a parent, legal guardian, local school, or NGO representative over the age of 21 as their Contest Advisor.

JUDGING CRITERIA AND PROCESS
A Contest Entry Review Team will review entries for overall completion and relevancy to the goals identified for the contest. Entries that receive positive initial review will be evaluated by a separate three person Review Panel based on the NEXTGEN AWARDS 100 point scoring system. The Review Panel will consist of at least two staff members from NGOs and one staff member from a technology organization. Entries will be separated by age group and QoL category. Up to 20 points can be earned for each of the following:

1. Creativity of the idea and innovative use of mobile phone technologies or services
2. Practicality of idea
3. Impact on QoL challenge
4. Planned or actual implementation of the idea
5. Presentation of entry

Based on the Review panel scores, 60 NEXTGEN AWARD semifinalists will be selected for further review to determine the 30 NEXTGEN AWARD finalists. Upon age verification of the finalists, a distinguished panel of judges drawn from national and international business and civic leaders, educators and experts in technology will choose the 12 NEXTGEN STARS, 4 of which they will further designate as NEXTGEN SUPERSTARS.

NEXTGEN PILOT CONTEST PRIZES AND AWARDS GALA

• 30 Country Finalists will receive $100
• 12 NEXTGEN Stars will receive a total of $500
• 4 NEXTGEN SuperStars will each receive $1,500
• Contest Advisor designated by each winner in their entry will receive $200

Based on the quality of the contest entry, NEXTGEN Stars and SuperStars may be considered for additional project development grants, scholarships or internships on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to receiving cash prizes, NEXTGEN Stars will be honored at the nationally televised NextGen Awards Gala held and the event on Saturday, December 8, 2007. Their winning ideas will also be showcased on www.nextgenawards.org and www.nextgenawards.vn and other participating websites.

NEXTGEN Leaders and Mentors Network
Each NEXTGEN Awards winner will be matched with a personal NEXTGEN MENTOR to help them expand on their winning idea and potential as individuals. These Mentors will be fluent in both Vietnamese and English and have expertise in the contest category of their mentee’s winning idea. The NextGen International Mentors Panel of Experts will be comprised of broadly based individuals with relevant international experience and expertise in one or more of the following categories: youth development, information technology and services, education, health and the environment. To further extend the benefits, all 30 NEXTGEN finalists will become members of the NEXTGEN Leaders Network with access to special bulletin boards, brainstorming sessions and opportunities to collaborate with other talented and caring youth.

NEXTGEN PILOT OUTREACH AND MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Our campaign message is “Making a difference with the next generation and mobile phones”. Outreach activities target both techie and non-techie young people in the 13-20 age range including those who do not themselves have mobile phones. Emphasis will be on inspiring youth empowerment, awareness of real-life quality of life challenges and creative uses and solutions using all levels of mobile phones to help make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. Schools, NGOs and government agencies will be instrumental in helping to distribute publicity materials to advertise the contest to the target audience and potential school and/or community organization advisors.

Since a major purpose of NextGen is to inspire young people even if they do not enter the contest, the Vietnam pilot outreach campaign will be primarily at the grass roots level using NextGen Young Ambassador speaking at schools and organizations as well as handing out thousands of colorful flyers for kids to share. Initial focus will be on Hanoi, Ho Chi Min City and Danang. Through cross-link website traffic and support from NGOs, the Hanoi University of Technology affiliate centers, and other media support the pilot outreach campaign will be expanded nationwide. Media outlets include:

• VietNamNet News*
• VTV2: National TV channel, including report and broadcast of the Awards Gala night
• E-chip Mobile: Vietnam’s top print magazine on mobile (30,000 copies published weekly)
• Advertisements and other media coverage sponsored by participating companies and NGOs
• XoneFM Radio Station
• NEXTGEN Blogs on Yahoo Vietnam website
• Local newspapers, youth newsletters and community bulletin boards

* As of January 2007, VietNamNet News website www.vietnamnet.vn is ranked 386th in global traffic with 3 billion hits per month (Alexa.com)

ABOUT US
The NEXTGEN AWARDS AND MENTORS INITIATIVE is launched under the auspices of CYBER CENTURY FORUM, a US based 501c3 public foundation, in cooperation with a diversity of non-governmental organizations, corporations and foundations.

Cyber Century Forum was founded in 1996. Its mission is to foster effective leadership, policies and initiatives to promote the utilization of information technologies and applications in support of global economic development, education, and quality of life. CYBER CENTURY FORUM serves as a resource and catalyst for research, understanding, and programs to enable individuals, institutions and governments to more effectively address the "cyber" opportunities of the new century. It works in cooperation with a diverse range of corporations, foundations and non-governmental organizations.

THE HONORABLE DIANA LADY DOUGAN, CHAIRMAN, CYBER CENTURY FORUM: Ambassador Dougan is Chair of Cyber Century Forum (501c3). She has spearheaded a number of multi-lateral, multi-industry initiatives including founding the Center for Information Infrastructure and Economic Development (CIIED) under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC) in cooperation with the World Bank. She has served in senior communications technology, foreign policy and management positions for more than three decades including appointments by three U.S. Presidents (Republican and Democrat) in Senate confirmed positions. Early in her career she was the first CATV Marketing Director for Time Inc. (now Time Warner). From 1982-88 she served as the first statutory US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy. She has been honored by a number awards for her public service and accorded the permanent rank of Ambassador.

NGUYEN ANH TUAN - CHAIRMAN, VIETNAM SOFTWARE AND MEDIA COMPANY: Tuan Nguyen is a highly regarded business and community leader in Vietnam. As Founder of the Vietnam Software and Media Company (VASC), Tuan is also the Editor-in-Chief of Telecom E-Chip and the on-line newspaper VietnamNet (www.vietnamnet.vn), Vietnam’s most widely read newspaper with over 3 million viewers a day, and its combined on-line publications get over 3 billion hits per month.* In 1996, Tuan founded VietNet, the first Internet portal and ISP in Vietnam. Tuan has been honored by a number of awards, including by the Prime Minister as one of Vietnam’s ten most distinguished and talented young people. In 2000 Tuan was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School.

PHAM DUC TRUNG KIEN - CEO, VIETNAM MEDIA GROUP: Kien Pham came to the US from Vietnam when he was nineteen. After working in a baby carriage assembly factory in Colorado and studying English by night, he earned degrees from the University of Colorado and Stanford University MBA/MA. In 1985 Kien was selected for the prestigious White House Fellowship program. His business career included being Vice President and General Manager for East Asia and the Pacific for Tenneco Energy. Kien has founded several charity organizations including orphanages and school renovation programs in Vietnam. He also served as the first Executive Director of the Vietnam Education Foundation (established by the US Congress). At Stanford University’s 100th anniversary, Kien was honored as one of its "100 Most Outstanding Alumni" and by the White Fellows with the "Legacy Leadership Award" in 2000. He joined VietnamNet as CEO in August 2006.

ABOUT THE NEXTGEN AWARDS PILOT JUDGES

Nguyen Hong Truong: Mr. Nguyen Hong Truong is the Director of Business and Technology Development for IDG Ventures Vietnam, the first ventures fund in Vietnam focusing on technology, telecom, digital content and online services. Prior to IDG, Mr. Truong worked for several U.S. strategic management consulting firms including Development Alternative Inc. and J. E. Austin Associates, and developed marketing and branding strategies for Procter & Gamble. An M.B.A. in Management Information Systems & Computer Resource Management and a lawyer of Hanoi Bar Association, Mr. Truong has coordinated an economic competitiveness program with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Mr. Truong is currently a member of the Board of Judges on Vietnam National Television game show series "Easy Being Rich," a popular program of business strategies similar to "The Apprentice" show in the U.S.

Pham Minh Tuan: Dr. Tuan is the founder and Managing Director of the CRC-TOPIC Business Incubator at the Hanoi University of Technology. Established in 2003, CRC has already been recognized by a number of international awards and project grants including support from the World Bank for its technology training, research and incubator support for mobile and internet based business start ups in Vietnam. Previously Dr. Tuan was a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company in Budapest and Stockholm and held management positions in Extramedia Ventures (Boston, NY, and Singapore).

Patrick Burke: From Melbourne, Australia, Patrick Burke has a professional association with Vietnam going back over 18 years when he first came to Vietnam. With a background in education as a teacher, author and curriculum development specialist and post-graduate qualifications related to historical and contemporary Vietnam, Mr. Burke is the Country Coordinator for the Academy for Educational Development, a US-based not-for-profit organization specializing in health and education programs.

Christopher Foss: Mr. Foss has an extensive background in developing internet-based strategic marketing and website design for a diverse range of US companies. In addition to co-founding and managing the innovative online outdoor retailer, The Daily Zort, Mr. Foss is Mid-Atlantic Director of a leading US web development company, Americaneagle.com, and Chief Technology Advisor for Cyber Century Forum and NextGen Awards and Mentors. Early in his career, Mr. Foss worked for the Global Information Infrastructure Commission, which was established in cooperation with the World Bank to foster the roles of telecom and information technology in expanding global economic development.

Denis Tse: Mr. Denis Tse is an Associate Director with HSBC Private Equity (Asia). He has been in venture capital investing since 1998, having worked with Warburg Pincus, Whitney & Co. and Piper Jaffrey Ventures. Denis was also a co-founder of Acasia Technologies, a fiber-optic start-up incubated at Hong Kong Applied Science & Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) that was eventually acquired by TDK. Denis has a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from INSEAD, and is the first Kauffman Fellow from an Asian private equity firm.

SCHEDULE

• January - March, 2007: Activate interactive websites publicizing NEXTGEN AWARDS AND MENTORS INITIATIVE and commence soft launch.
• April 2007: NEXTGEN AWARDS CONTEST Publicity Campaign officially launches.
• July 31, 2007: Applications received by this date will receive Early Bird Award
• October 15, 2007: Deadline for contest applications.
• November 16, 2007*: NEXTGEN country finalists announced on NEXTGEN global and Vietnamese websites.
• November 26, 2007*: NEXTGEN Stars (winners) and their Contest Advisors announced on websites and other mass media.
• December 8th, 2007*: NEXTGEN Super Stars announced at NEXTGEN Vietnam Gala night (broadcast on VTV2 nationwide)
• December 2007: NEXTGEN winners matched up with international mentors and NEXTGEN Leaders Network.
• Spring 2008: Expand NEXTGEN to other countries and regions.

Following is a partial list of those proving support and/or expertise: