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'house warming: Boston hosts innovative teens from 18 countries
By Tenley Woodman
Monday, July 24, 2006 - Updated: 10:26 AM EST

It's not called the World Wide Web for nothing.

Last week, nearly 250 teens from 18 countries converged in Boston for the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network's 2006 Teen Summit to learn about technical solutions to problems in their communities.

"(Clubhouses are) in communities that can really benefit from engaging young people. The Clubhouse is one of the first successful education programs for them. At the Clubhouse you are learning because you want to," said Gail Breslow, director of the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network.

The first Computer Clubhouse opened in Boston 12 years ago as an after-school program at the Museum of Science. With the help of such financial contributors as the Intel Foundation and the National Science Foundation, the program has expanded to include Clubhouses in 20 different countries. Teen membership is free at each facility.

Only three young people from each of the 105 Clubhouses were selected to attend the summit.

Paulina Ramos, 16, of Panama, was working on a digital storytelling project with peers from Costa Rica and Mexico. Digital storytelling is a combination of still images and audio material.

Ramos, who had never been outside of Panama until last week, said she learned about the similarities between her Spanish-speaking culture and those of her group.

"I learned a lot about their cultures," said fellow participant Patrick Rameiro, 13, of Albuquerque, N.M.

Rameiro's group, which included teens from Northern Ireland and Detroit, are focusing their digital storytelling piece on the emotions involved in world sports, specifically soccer, football and baseball.

This is 17-year-old Tori Roberson's second summit. The Colorado Springs, Colo., hip-hop enthusiast said he became involved with the Clubhouse out of boredom with after-school athletic programs.

"Through the Clubhouse, I discovered I'm a musician," Roberson said.

"My first year I didn't know what to expect," Roberson said, who is attending this year as a youth mentor. "I didn't care about it until after. I still keep in-touch with people I've met here."

Samantha Mbawuike contributed to this article. Mbawuike, 17, is a Caroline Knapp intern with the Herald.