Fall 2013
Temperatures weren't the only thing to soar this summer. GK students expanded their horizons through trips to Bosnia and Costa Rica, campaigned for education reforms both nationally and globally, and designed new models for green roofs and green games in NYC. Join us in celebrating these young leaders as they take flight this fall!
Foreign Policy Institute Welcomes Stephanopoulos & Rubin stephanopoulos
Global Kids students had the opportunity to learn about pressing global issues from a unique set of teachers this summer: ABC News Correspondent George Stephanopoulos and Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Robert Rubin. Each shared his experience at Global Kids' U.S. in the World: International Law and Foreign Policy Program, which is held at the Council on Foreign Relations and educates students about international issues and events through interactive workshops, discussions with experts, and field trips to institutions such as the United Nations and the New York Times. During Stephanopoulos' visit, students turned the table on the seasoned news correspondent, quizzing him about his greatest career moments, the proliferation of celebrity TV, and Hillary Clinton's potential presidential run. Other featured speakers at the Institute included Les Gelb, Richard Haass, and Laurie Garrett.
Students Represent U.S. in Bosnia 
GK students pose with their Bosnian host mother. Click above to view more photos from the trip on the students' blog!
Eighteen Global Kids youth leaders participated in a unique cultural exchange to Bosnia and Herzegovina this summer. The three-week trip, part of the U.S. Department of State's American Youth Leadership Program, was designed to raise youth voices and explore local media and activism efforts in Bosnia. After spending 5 days in Sarajevo, the group arrived in the charming town of Sanski Most, where they connected with their host organization--the Center for Peacebuilding--and were welcomed by their homestay families. Students collaborated with Bosnian peers to investigate global challenges and create digital media projects that were then presented at the US Embassy. The GK youth are now developing peer education projects to share what they learned with their communities in NYC.
GK-DC Travels to Costa Rica
Students visit the US Embassy in Costa Rica. Click above to view more photos from the trip on the students' blog!
The Global Kids DC Summer Institute concluded its third year of programming with a service-learning trip to Costa Rica. The Institute began with four weeks of intensive foreign policy study for twenty-five youth, including trips to the State Department and the World Bank, and guest speakers from USAID and the Mexican Embassy. Following the Institute, eight students continued their exploration of foreign affairs with Global Kids through a trip to Puerto Viejo and San Jose, Costa Rica. Students focused on environmental, food justice, and minority rights issues and met with local youth groups to share their life experiences and perspectives on world issues. This phenomenal trip would not have been possible without the aid of Global Kids' DC community. We thank you for your support.
Students Join Malala at UN to Call for Universal Education for Women
Last October, when 15-year old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban extremists for attending school in Pakistan, it was uncertain whether she would live to see her 16th birthday. Yet on July 12th, Malala was joined by hundreds of youth activists - including 9 GK leaders - for a memorable birthday celebration at the United Nations. The Malala Day Youth Assembly featured remarks by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremić. In her speech, Malala issued a call to action for world leaders to address the systematic inequalities that deprive nearly 57 million children of their right to education each year. Click here to read about the impact this event had on one GK student.
Student Mural Brings Healthy Message to Staten Island Curtis Mural
GK students from Curtis High School collaborated with local artists, government officials, and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness to transform the Barrett Triangle bus shelter on Staten Island this summer. The bus shelter was selected because of its high-traffic location and decrepit appearance. Over a period of several months, GK students worked with local artist Scott Wegener to design and create the artwork for the site. The students proudly unveiled their completed mural at a public ceremony in July. Click here to watch a video documenting the project!
Playing for Keeps Inspires New Generation of Game Designers
P4K Summer 2013
Students work together to create video games. Click above to visit GK's Digital Media blog!

Approximately 20 youth took part in Global Kids' Playing for Keeps game design camp. Students used MIT's open source video game design software, Scratch, to program and design games about environmental issues. The program was offered in two sessions, one for middle school students and one for high school students. Participants explored game design and socially conscious games before breaking into groups to tackle the environmental issues of their choice. When it came time to program, many of the groups elected to assign tasks to individual students such as script writing, art design, and coding. They forged new friendships and were very proud to present their games back to the Global Kids' staff at the end of the camp.

Grants of $1M Help GK Build Capacity and International Footprint
Global Kids is thrilled to have received several new grant awards this summer, which will help the organization expand its programming in New York City, create a replication model, and solidify its partnerships abroad. A foundation that has asked to remain anonymous awarded Global Kids a three-year $500,000 capacity-building grant to create curriculum, offer professional development training, and launch after-school clubs at 10 new sites in the city. In addition, the National Science Foundation has awarded Hofstra University and Global Kids a three-year grant to expand its Playing for Keeps digital learning and game design program. Finally, Global Kids has partnered with the Cin� Institute in Haiti to provide professional training, curriculum, and technical support at the film school. GK first partnered with the Cin� Institute in 2012 during a service-learning trip to Haiti. The three awards represent over $1 million in funding. 
Students in Environmental Justice Institute Promote Green Roofs  GQW
Thirty Global Kids participated in this year's Environmental Justice Institute, a four-week summer camp that trains high school students to advocate for green energy policies and sustainable solutions to community issues in Western Queens. Global Kids partnered with the NYC Horticultural Society to offer the program, which was sponsored by the Greening Western Queens Fund and hosted by the Greater Astoria Historical Society. Throughout the four weeks, students learned how to promote a green roof campaign and the science of green spaces. They worked hard to create green roof designs for five public schools and met with elected officials from Queens to present their designs. The students plan to continue their campaign to install green roofs on NYC schools throughout the coming year.
GK Welcomes Guests from Mexico
GK was pleased to welcome a group of 20 students from the Escuela Anne Sullivan in Mexico City this summer. For one week, the students participated in special workshops on global citizenship, human rights, and service learning. They collaborated with GK Leaders from the Summer Institute at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Environmental Justice Institute in Queens.
Students Travel to Chicago for Free Minds, Free People Conference
Four GK Leaders traveled to the Windy City for the Free Minds, Free People Conference on social justice education this summer. GK students prepared for the trip by learning about key issues in educational justice including the history of mayoral and community control in NYC, the school-to-prison pipeline, the impact of high stakes testing, and the experiences of undocumented students. At the conference, they conducted two workshops on educational justice and the youth climate justice movement.
SYEP Career Initiatives
During the six-week Summer Youth Employment Program run by Global Kids, 90 students received career training and paid work opportunities. Rajhaun Clark, who is entering his senior year of high school in Brooklyn, participated in the program for the first time this summer. He sought out a position at the New York City Rescue Mission, where he assisted in the soup kitchen. Although he had never held a job before, Rajhaun's supervisors reported that he was a "delightful young man" to work with and they have "adopted Rajhaun as part of our village." Exposure to these opportunities not only helps students like Rajhuan attain jobs after the program is over, but ensures that they have the tools to succeed in whatever profession they pursue.
In This Issue:
Foreign Policy Institute
Travel to Bosnia
Travel to Costa Rica
Malala at UN
Staten Island Mural
Playing for Keeps
New Grants
Greening Western Queens
Mexican Youth Visit GK
Education Conference in Chicago
Career Initiatives
  
Student Spotlight:
Lord Ansah
 
 

Lord Ansah may only be a junior in high school, but he is already a senior contributor at Global Kids. The sixteen-year-old has participated regularly in the Leadership and Human Rights Activist programs at Long Island City High School and attended GK's Environmental Justice Institute in Queens last summer. This June, Lord traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina with GK, where he dove in to lessons on language, media, and culture. He says his favorite activity was a workshop on stereotypes and the importance of getting to know someone before judging them. After he graduates high school, Lord is looking forward to attending college and is interested in studying engineering and working in the civil rights movement. When asked what advice he could offer to incoming freshmen, his answer was quick and to the point: "Join Global Kids. GK is an experience that's going to stick with you for life. It will literally transform you, the way you think about the world and people." We couldn't agree with him more.

 

  
Student Spotlight:
Leslie Cano
 
  

Before Leslie Cano joined GK a year ago, she never thought about environmental issues in her neighborhood. After being trained as a climate activist in Global Kids' Greening Western Queens summer institute, Leslie learned that her community suffered from some of the worst air quality rates in the city. She also learned that GK youth like her were leading the fight for better environmental policies in Queens and around the country. When the school year began, Leslie joined Global Kids' HRAP program in her high school and attended the National Youth Climate Exchange, organized by Global Kids in Pennsylvania this spring. This summer, Leslie tackled a new set of issues when she hit the road to attend the Free Minds, Free People Conference in Chicago with GK, where she says she gained a whole new perspective on her rights as a student. Upon her return, she joined Global Kids once again as a participant in the Foreign Policy Institute at the Council on Foreign Relations. Leslie has decided to use what she learned this summer to get involved with student government activities in her school. She even plans to run for School President in the spring. Her platform? Giving every student opportunities to participate in activities, feel proud of their school, and have a fun high school experience. Leslie, you've got our vote.

 

  
2013-2014 Global Kids School Sites
  
Academy for Health Careers, Brooklyn
 
Bell Multicultural High School, Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Washington, DC

Cesar Chavez Public Policy Charter School, Capitol Hill and Parkside Campus, Washington, DC
 
Curtis High School, Staten Island

 

Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School, Manhattan
 
Friendship Charter Academy, Washington, DC
 
Global Neighborhood Secondary School, Manhattan

 

High School for Global Citizenship, Brooklyn 

High School for Medical Professions, Brooklyn
 
High School for Public Service, Brooklyn
 
Hospitality High School, Washington, DC

International Arts Business School, Brooklyn 

 

John Adams High School, Queens 

Long Island City High School, Queens 

 

 Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Washington, DC    


McKinley Technology Education Campus, Washington, DC

Paul Robeson High School, Brooklyn
 
PS/IS 109, Brooklyn

 

Secondary School For Law, Brooklyn

School for Democracy & Leadership, Brooklyn 

School for Human Rights, Brooklyn 

 

School for International Studies, Brooklyn 

Transit Tech High School, Brooklyn 

 

William Cullen Bryant High School, Queens

 

  
 
Global Kids, Inc.

137 East 25th St.  l  2nd Floor  l  New York, NY 10010
1825 K St. NW  I  Suite 210  I  Washington, DC 20006 
info@globalkids.org  l  212.226.0130  l  www.globalkids.org

 

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