After much ado, the ymex.org team is very excited to announce that we are finally live and open to the public! The best way to experience Youth Media Exchange, also known as www.ymex.org, is to go sign-up (or simply log-in if you are a TakingITGlobal member) right now! But if you’d rather get an idea of what ymex is about, then read on…

Youth Media Exchange is what it sounds like: a space for youth to exchange digital media on global issues that they have created or that exists elsewhere on the web, but the fun doesn’t stop there and neither does ymex.org’s raison d’etre.

What do we mean by “Youth”? Ymex.org was created for young people in the age range of 13 to 18 years old. But we are open and inclusive to all who want to join, so if you are reading this now, you are invited to join us.

What do we mean by “Media”? Practically any digital media creation about global issues which can fit in the following categories can be submitted:
writing - essays, blogs and citizen journalism news articles, etc.
images - photographs and digital art like collage, posters, 3D, etc.
audio - podcasts, music, interviews, radio documentaries, etc.
videos - interviews, documentaries about community issues, student events or performances and service projects, educational animations about an issue, etc.
games – socially-conscious games played on a computer
mashups - re-mixed-media creations of any kind like a slide show of photos with audio captions, annotated Google maps with information about an issue, etc.

Ymex.org does not host any media other than images, mostly because plenty of other websites do, but we do offer suggestions for where you can upload your media which can then be shared on ymex.org. You can find these suggestions both in Resources under the Share tab and step-by-step tutorials of how to use a few of them in the FAQ’s.

What do we mean by “Exchange”? Well, actually, this word is loaded with meaning. First it means the exchange of knowledge through the medium of digital media, submitting the media that in some way raises awareness on a global issue and what others around the world are doing on that issue. The next level of exchange comes when other members of the community around the world respond to that piece of media with another piece of media. Commenting on how that piece is effective or could be effective in eliciting positive change, or how that media opened up the observer's eyes to the issue, also adds to the exchange. The exchange also happens in the Resources section where members submit online tools and free open source software that could help others figure out how to make, edit, convert, and upload to the internet the media that contributes to the knowledge pool of understanding the issues. Finally, exchange could refer to the "Youth Guides" who are soon to be mentors on the website, and those they are guiding to learn more about both digital media and the global issues.

So, finally, what do we mean by “global issues”? Well, whatever matters most to the members of the ymex.org community and what emerges based on the media that is submitted. Those issues that have a social context to them, ones that make us realize how interconnected we are as a global community, the ones in the mainstream as well as those that aren’t. We thought some good issues to tackle in kicking off the website would be: global health & hiv/aids, migration, access to education, environment, and poverty. Of course, many other issues are connected with these and even many of these issues are interconnected. But that's the point: let's uncover, discover, and discuss this interconnectedness with media and with youth from other parts of the world we can learn from ... which brings me to my final point.

Of course, what anyone would expect from a collaborative effort between TakingITGlobal, Global Kids,, and the Asia Society, ymex will be at its greatest when there are youth from multiple continents meeting, discussing, and collaborating on media productions. The next ymexgroup blog will be focused on the targeted outreach countries in North America and Asia and will introduce our Regional Online volunteers from those countries.

One quick note for closing: the word “change” is hidden in the title of the website: Youth Media Exchange. Ymex.org will be most successful when it elicits real change, positive social change through increased interconnectedness and cross-cultural dialogue and action on difficult issues that our global community must face in this time. For the members that are involved on a regular basis, change will also take the form of improved and enhanced digital media literacy skills and the ability to discuss the impact of digital media in their lives.

So what are you waiting for? Join us at www.ymex.org and be part of the exchange!