Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there's no advertising or religious proselytizing on the site.
Families can talk about poverty, fair trade, and what can be done at the local level to help change the world.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jean Armour Polly
The Global Gang consists of five cartoon kids, one each from the UK, Peru, India, the Philippines, and Kenya. Although the UK site's sponsor is Christian Aid, kids can learn about many different cultures and religions. Its theme is that everyone can do something to help eradicate poverty, hunger, and suffering in the world -- whether it's buying fair-trade coffee or raising money to help tsunami victims.
The worldview is through the eyes and thoughts of the world's real children. Some of the features are serious, such as "Rooted." In this one, UK kids travel to their family's homelands to experience life there. Their brief online diaries include photos and videos of events, foods, festivals, and more.
Other sections are just for fun. "Global Gossip," for example, offers user-submitted jokes, such as:
"Patient: Doctor, Doctor I've only got 59 seconds to live.
Doctor: Wait a minute!"
Kids also send in their favorite Web sites (mostly online gaming) and poems. Recently there was a poetry contest on the subject of fair-trade chocolate. Here's a quote from a winning entry: "What was that?/Did you hear that sound?/The clunking of the cocoa bean,/Falling to the ground./Farmers have to fetch that,/Just for us to eat/They're doing all the work,/For our delicious treat./How much do they get for that?/If they're even getting paid./Nothing I am being told,/Unless the chocolate is fair trade."
There are also online games, crafts, and a "Homework Help" section that contains funky facts on various topics, such as Health, Food, and Disasters. Sample: "There are more than 3 million earthquakes in the world every year -- that's one every 11 seconds! Most are very small 'microquakes'."
A well-policed discussion board area encourages kids to sound off on topics like technology, current events, and their favorite festivals. Additionally, there's a section for parents and teachers that provides suggestions on using the site.
This is a nice, well-rounded site that thoughtful kids will find fascinating.
Reviewed: 07/10/2006
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Social BehaviorPositive social action and volunteerism. |
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Educational ValueKids can learn about many different cultures and religions. |
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