Description

We started The Apathy Is Boring Project because even if the politicians don't always care about what we have to say, they can't ignore 7 million of us going to the polls.

The Apathy is Boring Project is a national non-partisan project that uses art, media, and technology to encourage active citizenry, outreaching to a broad demographic of youth about how to be more involved in their communities and the democratic process.

Apathy is Boring was born in January 2004, to fill a gap in youth representation in politics and democracy. The original founders (Ilona Dougherty, 23, Paul Shore, 30, and Mackenzie Duncan, 20) saw that many of their peers felt disengaged from the political process. They wanted to see youth voting rates increase while combating youth apathy.

With a tiny budget, Apathy is Boring's first campaign began in February 2004, only a month after its conception, and was focused on getting out the youth vote during the 2004 federal election. Using digital media technology and an outreach campaign, Apathy is Boring was able to reach over 500 000 young people in Canada in two months. The website received over 400 000 hits and the project sent out digital e-cards to over 100 000 young people.

By engaging youth who are disengaged, Apathy Is Boring aims to be the entry point for young people into lifelong active citizenry. Our aim is to really communicate with youth using a mix of creative, content-driven projects that engage, motivate and educate. With this site, we aim to create an online community in which young people can connect with politicians and each other - because apathy is boring, and democracy is sexy. We welcome you to that community!

Program Areas

Website and Online Technology

Through key partnerships with leaders in the field Apathy is Boring has created an online presence that continues to draw thousands of visitors every month. This site is Apathy Is Boring's interactive, user-generated community and web experience. Free user profiles; user-generated art, music, video, petitions; resources for young people and organizations involved with young people; MP contact info and an eventual online phone portal for talking to your MP, will put community-building tools in the hands of young people who, up until now, have felt left out of the democratic process.

The Youth Friendly Guide - www.youthfriendly.com

Apathy Is Boring recognizes that it takes a lot of work to create an environment in which youth feel important, needed and engaged.

Apathy is Boring has developed a program to help adult organizations become more youth friendly. Through an online guide, workshops, and additional resources Apathy is Boring is able to offer a comprehensive consulting service to address the youth outreach needs of any organization.

The guide, downloadable and available in hardcopy, allows companies and organizations to learn innovative ways of forming and maintaining increasingly important intergenerational partnerships. We also offer workshops & consulting services for organizations, government departments and anyone who works with youth.

Concerts & Arts Events

The Apathy is Boring Project has become a producer of art with a message over the last two years. Apathy is Boring has produced shows in Toronto, Montreal and Whitehorse. Using music as a tool to re-engage young people in their communities, all profits that Apathy is Boring earns goes back into our not for profit work. Apathy Is Boring has partnered with internationally, nationally and locally-known musicians to put on a series of Civic Duty Concerts. Our list of affiliated celebrities include: Buck65, Chris Brown and Kate Fenner , Chantal Kreviazuk, James Bryan, Melissa Auf de Maur, mr. Nemo, Raine Maida, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Mclachlan and many more.

Merchandise

Apathy is Boring has developed a sexy clothing and accessory line to help fund our not-for-profit work. We launched our 2005/2006 catalogue in Spring 2005 and launched our online store with a fashion show at the World Urban Forum in December 2005. The line features clean and simple pieces with quotes relating to democracy, the charter of rights and calls to action. Just another way that we use art to encourage political dialogue amongst young people.

E-Cards and Newsletters

Interactive E-cards were a critical part of the Election 2004 campaign. With the support of Transform Media, we created eye catching, well designed, and interactive e-cards that lead users back to the Apathy is Boring website through clickable links. A list-serve was also established and managed by Transform Media. New users are able to sign up through the Apathy Is Boring website, and the list-serve now has over 1500 members.