The regional social program will donate $600,000 to organizations supporting the use of technology to improve the lives of the youth and helping bridge the digital divide.
The theme for 2003 is "Live Your Dream," which will focus on fulfilling the dreams of young people.
"Ensuring that all young people have equal access to information technology is an increasingly important issue for the future development of the Asia-Pacific. I understand that Samsung is one of the first companies to establish such a large-scale, unified regional social program in the Asia-Pacific focusing on this issue," said Dr. Kim Hak-Su, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP).
Kim is acting in his personal capacity as chairman of the regional judging committee for Samsung DigitAll Hope 2003.
"What makes DigitAll Hope 2003 monumental is the size of the grant money; its regional focus on an area where using information technology to fill a development gap will remain a key issue; and the theme of youth, whose lives will be improved through the use of information technology," Kim said.
The youth-themed program is part of Samsung’s commitment to give back to the countries where it operates. The youth is the focus because those aged 15 to 24 represent a large segment – 20 percent – of the region’s total population.
"This region has given the company such great success and the youth here, with so many ambitions, dreams and aspirations, should be given the chance to achieve greatness," said Kwang-Soo Kim, president and CEO of Samsung Asia.
"When we looked at what was being done in our region, on a social level, by large corporations, we realized that much more was needed. I anticipate Samsung DigitAll Hope will promote the use of information technology for the youth and perhaps, influence other companies to get involved in social programs as well," he added.
As part of the grant selection process, Samsung has been making consultations with national youth agencies throughout the region and UNESCAP to identify organizations matching Samsung’s 2003 program objectives.
Samsung has also formed an independent judging committee to evaluate grant applications. Charities, non-government organizations, educational institutions and development institutes will be considered for grants.
Ongoing and newly founded youth projects will also be considered for monetary and product awards.
The Samsung DigitAll Hope 2003 regional judging committee will be headed by Dr. Kim Hak-Su. In the Philippines, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro was appointed to the judging committee.
The other members of the regional judging committee include:
• Kwang-Soo Kim, regional president and CEO of Samsung Asia;
• Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, president of the National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand;
• John Rimmer, chief executive officer of the National Office for Information Economy of Australia;
• Dr. Verghese Kurien, chairman of AMUL of India;
• Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Giao, chairman of the Alliance of Association of Technique and Science of Vietnam; and
• Dr. Leo Wee Hin Tan, director of the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.