Develop Global Youth Leaders in NYC and DC!

A look back on an exciting summer with Global Kids!

The new school year is upon us and we at Global Kids are looking forward to another action packed year full of innovative in-school and out-of-school programming. As our students and trainers concentrate on setting the foundation for another great year, many are also reflecting on GK’s exciting 2018 summer. Below are some of the highlights:

U.S. in the World Summer Institute Ends on a High Note

In July, twenty-one students participated in the U.S. in the World Summer Institute’s 2018 session held at the Council on Foreign Relations. Participants studied foreign policy and international affairs issues including: climate change, education, women’s rights, the refugee crisis, and the nuclear disarmament of North Korea. After three weeks of workshops, industry meetings and trips, the Summer Institute ended on a high note when students presented their peer education projects to Chelsea Clinton and members of the Clinton Foundation team. The Clinton Foundation’s expert feedback on students’ projects generated an insightful discussion that paved the way for further study.

 Global Kids: Youth Ambassadors in Japan

In partnership with the TOMODACHI Initiative and the Japan Foundation, nine Global Kids Leaders became part of the TOMODACHI Generation and traveled to Japan’s Tohoku region for a 10-day educational and cultural exchange journey in August. On the trip students explored themes of radiation, water quality and community health. Activities included:

• Learning from Futaba Mirai School students about their efforts to change public perception of their community following the Fukushima nuclear disaster
• Documenting stories of community resilience
• Participating in homestays that exposed our young people to other facets of Japanese life including new foods, culture and sights

 Pura Vida

Deforestation, indigenous medicine, and AfroCaribbean culture were just some of the topics explored during a Global Kids trip to Costa Rica. Six Global Kids Leaders from New Explorers High School and two staff members spent a week exploring ecological and environmental sustainability in partnership with Hidden Garden Wellness Center. Highlights of the trip included:

• Meeting with former Costa Rican congressman Edwin Patterson
• A cultural exchange with El Cole High School students
• Afro-Latin dance and drumming lessons
• Viewing of a historical play presented by the Watsi Indigenous Theatre Group.

 From DC to South Africa

From July 26th through August 9th, fifteen Global Kids Leaders from the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute (MBYLI) in Washington, D.C. embarked on a two-week service-learning trip to South Africa. The students spent five days in Cape Town and six days in Johannesburg engaging with politicians, activists, U.S. government officials, community leaders, and South African youth. The jam-packed travel itinerary included:

• Visiting the District Six Museum and surrounding neighborhood with a former resident who lived under apartheid
• Tasting various South African cuisine from brais (BBQ) to Cape Malay food
• Visiting the Robben Island prison cell of Nelson Mandela where he spent seventeen years of his life
• A discussion about careers in foreign affairs with former GK Board Member and United States diplomat Kimberly McClure.

 Onward and Upward!

After a summer of international travel and productive study of international affairs, Global Kids is ramping up for an exciting fall. We look forward to sharing the experiences from our Global Kids’ Leaders as they continue to embody the values of informed global citizens.