Produced by the team behind ichannel’s @issue, this series takes a revealing look at what Canadian teenagers have to say about national and international issues from climate change to bullying. With host Kevin O’Keefe.
PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CANADIAN MEDIA FUND.
“Techno Teens”
Rebroadcast: Monday June 6
Between iPhones and Blackberries, Facebook and Twitter, today’s kids are the most plugged-in generation that’s ever lived. Many parents and teachers see this as a problem. But as host Kevin O’Keefe discovers in this episode, some teens are using communications technology and social media to do good in the world.
“Teens and AIDS”
Rebroadcast: Tuesday June 7
There are two million people in the world under the age of 15 who are HIV-positive. As many as half of all new HIV infections are among people aged 15-24. With so much information available on AIDS prevention, why are so many teens ending up infected? In this new edition of @issue 4 teens, host Kevin O’Keefe meets young people from across Canada and the U.S. who are working to stop the spread of AIDS and help others living with the disease.
“Schools Out For Summer”
Rebroadcast: Wednesday June 8
How are you going to spend your summer vacation? Hanging out at the beach? Working at a fast-food joint? Maybe you can do better. In this season’s final episode of @issue 4 teens, host Kevin O’Keefe meets youngsters who have found creative ways to occupy their time off – from learning a new language, to trekking through distant countries, to biking across Canada.
“It Gets Better”
Rebroadcast: Saturday Aug. 6
The teen years are hard on everybody. But gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered teens often face a much rougher road than their peers. According to some estimates, LGBT kids are 13 times more likely to contemplate suicide. In this episode, @issue 4 teens host Kevin O’Keefe meets some of the people who are working to help gay and lesbian youngsters survive their tumultuous teens.
“International Activists”
Rebroadcast: Monday Aug. 29
They’ll go just about anywhere to make a difference. @issue 4 teens profiles young people who have traveled to Africa and India to work on development projects, and meets kids who are working to raise awareness about homelessness and the environment here in Canada.
“Envirokids”
Rebroadcast: Tuesday Aug. 30
At 14, Corrina Serda (below) is the youngest person ever trained by Al Gore to deliver his acclaimed climate change workshop, An Inconvenient Truth. In this episode, Corrina explains how and why she became committed to fighting for the environment.
“No Place to Run”
Rebroadcast: Wednesday Aug. 31
Ontario teen Daniel Sebben was bullied so relentlessly at school that he became suicidal. His experience is far from uncommon. In this episode, @issue 4 teens looks at the Empowered Student Partnership, a Toronto-area program that brings police and students together to help make schools safer.
“Anti-Terrorism”
Rebroadcast: Thursday Sept. 1
With the trial and conviction of members of the infamous Toronto 18, many young Canadian Muslims feel they have been branded as terrorists in the public eye. In this episode, @issue 4 teens profiles kids who are shattering stereotypes about what it means to be young and Muslim in Canada.
“The Apprentice”
Rebroadcast: Friday Sept. 2
They’re ambitious, hard-working, business-savvy – and barely old enough to drive. In this episode, @issue 4 teensmeets high-school kids who’ve already kicked off successful business careers – among them teenage music mogul Elyse Simpson (left) of Jangle Records, environmental entrepreneur Ahmed Elfeky, founder of Greentooth and FRED Inc.’s Alessia Vettese, who, along with a group of fellow teens, found a way to cash in on the liquor market before any of them was actually old enough to drink.
“Underage Overachievers”
Rebroadcast: Saturday Sept. 3
You’re never too young to change the world. In this episode, @issue 4 teens profiles some of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20: teens whose leadership and innovation has helped to better their neighbourhoods, schools and communities. Among them: Aly Kassim-Lakha, whose company Coconet is working to develop anti-malaria netting made from coconut fibres; Perri Tutelman, a 16-year-old cancer researcher and founder of the Cures for Kids Foundation; Sapna Shah, who spearheaded new research on kidney disease in an effort to help a friend’s father; and Ivet Bell, a 17-year-old who has committed hundreds of hours to community groups and social agencies in her native B.C.
“Soul Searching”
Rebroadcast: Monday Sept 5
According to sociologist Reginald Bibby, Canadian teens are turning away from religion in ever-increasing numbers. Nearly a third profess no faith at all. But Bibby’s research also shows that those teens who do believe are more devout than the previous generation. Why is the gap between young believers and non-believers growing so rapidly? Are today’s teens giving up on God for good? In this episode, @issue 4 teens host Kevin O’Keefe talks to Christian, Muslim, Jewish and atheist teens about living with – and without – religion.
“Philanthroteens, Part One”
Rebroadcast: Tuesday Sept. 6
Contrary to their reputation as a spoiled and self-involved generation, many Canadian teens are passionately dedicated to helping others. In this episode @issue 4 teens host Kevin O’Keefe meets UNICEF Canada ambassador Bilaal Rajan (below), a 14-year-old “philanthroteen” who has raised more than $5 million to support development projects around the world, and has authored the book Making Change: Tips from an Underage Overachiever to promote youth activism.
“Philanthroteens, Part Two”
Rebroadcast: Wednesday Sept. 7
Today’s teenagers may well be the most socially and politically engaged generation we’ve ever seen. In this episode,@issue 4 teens host Kevin O’Keefe meets young Canadians whose commitment to volunteering has changed their communities, and their own lives, for the better. Among them: Ramya Amuthan, a visually impaired 17-year-old (and Olympic torch bearer) who works with organizations such as CNIB; 16-year-old Alex Middleton; a Junior Counsellor for The War Amps; Toronto-area teen Amber Morley, who helped to spearhead the South Etobicoke Youth Assembly in an effort to steer kids away from gangs; and Jerri Clout, an 18-year-old ambassador withPatrick4Life, an organization dedicated to bringing an end to HIV/AIDS.
“Philanthroteens, Part Three”
Rebroadcast: Thursday Sept. 8
Can one young girl take on a far-reaching social problem like homelessness – and make a real difference? In this episode,@issue 4 teens host Kevin O’Keefe meets Winnipeg 14-year-old Hannah Taylor (below), whose Ladybug Foundation - which she founded when she was just eight – has helped to raise more than $2 million to provide food, shelter and safety for homeless people across Canada.
“Mini-Me’s”
Rebroadcast: Friday Sept. 9
Canadian teens are consuming more media than ever before. But they’re not always content just to take it in: some want a piece of the action. In this episode, host Kevin O’Keefe meets the kids who may be coming for his job some day: teenage journalists with a thirst for knowledge and a knack for asking tough questions. Check out Canada’s only high school podcast radio station, get the story behind Toronto’s top online student paper, and tune in to a new generation of teenage music reporters.
“Risky Business”
Rebroadcast: Saturday Sept. 10
The number one killer of Canadian teenagers isn’t cancer or AIDS: it’s accidental injury. In this episode, host Kevin O’Keefe meets kids involved in the SMARTRISK No Regrets program (above), an innovative new undertaking designed to show teens how to take risks sensibly, and takes a look at the efforts of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving.
PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CANADIAN MEDIA FUND.
