Today, Youtube launches a new philanthopic effort aimed at addressing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) to end global poverty. Starting today, through November 1st, site visitors throughout the world will be able to submit videos of themselves addressing a local and/or global poverty-related issue.

If executed effectively the ‘In My Name’ project will prove to be one of the most effective povert-related campaigns ever executed, both online and offline. Youtube’s massive reach (estimated 73.5 million per month) is the main reason for the campaign’s inevitable success. Today’s teens and young adults are spending more of their free time online than watching tv and reading magazines – if any youth-focused marketing campaign is to prove effective it must have a substantial online component. The youthful and tech-saavy demographic that accounts for the majority of Youtube’s daily audience is a huge plus on its own.

This campaign also takes advantage of well-selected partnerships with globally recognized organizations such as Oxfam and the One Campaign as well as popular musicians to include Will.i.am and John Legend.

Finally, on November 1st, Youtube will select the best user-submitted videos and use them to create a mash-up video that will be broadcast to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.

Check out the ‘In My Name’ website here: http://www.youtube.com/inmyname