Mission:
To positively impact the greatest number of young people, in as many places as possible, in the shortest amount of time, with programs that are effective, and in ways that are sustainable.

Purpose of Site:
The International Youth Foundation Web site provides information on the organization's mission, strategy, and methods. It also describes its work with each of its partner organizations, profiles successful youth programs, and offers resources such as tools for program evaluation and assessment.

Background:
Established in 1990, IYF has worked in more than sixty countries to improve the conditions and prospects for young people between the ages of five and twenty-five where they live, learn, work, and play. The organization helps young people in need by identifying existing programs that are making a positive and lasting difference and partnering with hundreds of companies, foundations, and civil society organizations to strengthen and expand these programs. IYF strengthens the programs by providing technical assistance and facilitating the sharing of information and expertise among organizations. Since its founding, IYF and its partners have helped more than 26 million young people gain access to life skills, education, job training, and other opportunities. In addition, IYF works to increase global awareness of children and youth issues, strengthen the organizational skills of youth program leaders, and promote greater knowledge and application of best practices for young people.

Home Page:
The attractive and well-designed home page is reflective of the entire IYF site. In addition to a picture of a youth and the organization's logo, the page includes a brief statement of IYF's purpose and links to the main sections of the site: About Us, Our Partners, Get Involved, Programs that Work, and Strategic Initiatives. The page also includes links to news items and other areas of the site, including Publications, Jobs, and Contact Us.

Outstanding Feature:
The IYF site features comprehensive information on its youth programs around the world. While the information is accessible through several different channels on the site, the pages devoted to YouthNet International under the Programs that Work heading offer detailed program descriptions, fact sheets, and contact information. YouthNet International is IYF's vehicle for the development and exchange of information on effective programs, and it aims to increase the knowledge base and effectiveness of youth development programs and foster networking and interaction among organizations. Web users can visit the YouthNet International section of the site to research and browse programs organized by region and by area of focus.

Honorable Mention:
The Publications section of the IYF site provides all of the organization's reports in PDF format, as well as ordering instructions for printed copies. In addition to special reports such as What Works in Public/Private Partnering: Building Alliances for Youth Development (65 pages, PDF) and What Works in Engaging Business in Youth Employment and Livelihood Strategies (52 pages, PDF), the site also features country reports from Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and Slovakia, and a community and youth development series.