Students making meaningful contributions to the health and welfare of the world.
Summer Issue 2021
IN THE KNOW...
iEARN’s 5 Student Outcomes for Global Competence Connecting to a global community Communicating with diverse audiences Respect for other cultures and perspectives Taking collaborative action Empathy as they care for each other and the planet
Developing Globally Competent Students A global pandemic and other challenges that span beyond “We come from a small, rural school division national borders have illuminated how interconnected our where opportunities of this nature are few and world has become, making the ability to navigate and work in an interconnected, global environment essential. In fact, many far between.” iEARN-USA Teacher/Project education experts recognize global competence - a foundational element of iEARN’s approach to global educationPartner as essential learning for today’s students. iEARN’s approach connects students around the world engaging them in project- Becoming part of and feeling connected to a global community based, collaborative, experiential learning. is another global competency iEARN builds. Often, we think one needs to travel the world to accomplish this. With over 100 projects in 30 languages facilitated each year, International travel isn’t an option for everyone, in fact, fewer iEARN offers K-12 classrooms across all subject areas than 1% of students participate in a study abroad program. By opportunities to learn with the world. The design and approach using technology to connect students with their international of each project helps students develop important global peers, iEARN breaks down the barriers that limit travel and competencies like the ability to communicate and collaborate brings the world right to the students. Through collaborative across cultures, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, learning and meaningful dialogue, students and their teachers connecting with and becoming a part of a global community. develop friendships, build a network, and become part of an “I have never thought that I could learn so much international community.
about other cultures in such a short amount of time.” - Student from Romania/Project Participant
Through iEARN’s “Folk Costumes Around the Globe” project (seen in photo above), Cornelia Platon’s students honed their communications skills, learning how to connect with peers from other countries. Through their exploration of identity through costume, students developed an openness and respect for other cultures and perspectives. Lorena, a student and iEARN project participant, spoke of how the project fostered “good collaboration with students from different countries like India and Japan” and was a “unique experience, especially on account of learning and sharing new things and opinions.”
Educators may not know where to begin when developing global competencies in students, which is where iEARN comes in, making the process easily achievable, as well as accessible. Through our innovative and engaging projects, iEARN provides opportunities for teachers and schools to develop globally competent students, no matter where they are located. In doing so, we’re supporting the development of young changemakers who are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the world.
FINDING SOLUTIONS TO HUNGER THE PROJECT FLAGSHIPPED BY MARY BROWNELL
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ary Brownell has been advocating for equal access to food, in her 12 years of work as project facilitator for “Finding Solutions to Hunger.”
It all started when she was teaching in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was introduced to iEARN projects from a colleague. She quickly realized that the resources from iEARN could enrich her students' curriculum and understanding of the world. As an educator, Mary understood the commitment needed for students to become globally competent and build their own culture of caring for the world. Her students participated in other projects like the Holiday Card Exchange, and she wanted to stretch her classroom’s academic and global perspective through richer projects and a deeper involvement with iEARN. Projects like this give students the capacity to care for others and find solutions to the problems people face around the world. Subsequently, Mary was sure to pick projects that were adaptable for all types of classrooms, and that students were tolerant of language barriers and cultural differences. Students might say to themselves “I didn’t realize children were so hungry” and find themselves fully immersed in research, trying to solve hunger for the next generation. These classrooms, with this enriched curriculum, would discover the factors that contribute to the hunger crisis and become inspired to take action on how to treat the planet, understanding our need for a thriving planet and people’s dependence on natural resources.
Special thank you to Jane and Larry Devine who have selflessly supported iEARN and partnered with us through their "Kids Can Make A Difference" program!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORLD HUNGER
1.1
BILLION PEOPLE ARE CHRONICALLY MALNOURISHED.
FYI: THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD PRODUCED IN THE WORLD TO FEED EVERYONE ON THE PLANET.
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MILLION CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE.
690
MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE GO TO BED HUNGRY EACH NIGHT.
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THE ART OF STORYTELLING Storytelling is the way human beings communicate, connect, and build relationships. This quarter, iEARN-USA hosted a new workshop called,"YES Stories," a workshop entirely dedicated to learning the craft of storytelling. This unique opportunity was made available to international youth who participated in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. iEARN-USA is one of the implementing organizations for YES, a program that brings high school students from Muslim majority countries to the U.S. to live and study for one academic year. After returning to their home country, YES alumni expand upon the volunteering and citizen responsibility they learned while in the U.S. by developing their own community service projects. YES Stories was a three-week long workshop for 16 YES alumni from 13 countries to learn how to identify story-worthy moments from their YES experience and make those narratives come to life by celebrating and acknowledging the experience. A product of the times we live in, YES Stories was conducted entirely over Zoom and WhatsApp.
iEARN-USA partnered with a premier storytelling nonprofit, The Story Studio, to facilitate sessions and guide the YES alumni as they learned the art of storytelling. The workshop culminated in a Final Show, attended by a live audience, including Department of State officials.Seven participants were selected to tell their stories, from humorous stories about joining American glee clubs to powerful stories about overcoming depression and homesickness to endearing stories about the strong connection between host daughter and host father, all stories had the audience at the virtual edge of their seats.
Regardless of whether stories were performed at the final show, each of the 16 workshop participants crafted beautiful stories that demonstrate the deep connection and lasting impact of international exchange and education. The workshop may be over, but the work will persist; the participants are equipped to continue identifying stories and bringing light, attention, and life to the narratives they want to share, whether it's a personal experience or a global issue. This is what the heart of the workshop was – empowering young people to make a meaningful difference and contribution to their communities, what iEARN-USA strives to do each and every day.
Progressive Programming COLLABORATE Through the collaborative and creative work of all the Design Squad partners, the Design Squad Latinx (DSL) program is being developed in both English and Spanish to give middleschool Latinx students the opportunity to engage in STEM education and pursue future careers in engineering.
BUILD The DSL program creates a global community through fun and engaging STEM programming that will meet the unique needs and challenges of Latinx students in school and afterschool programs. The program attempts to test a strengths-based approach to learning by having students use their own personal and cultural experiences to connect with traditional engineering curriculum.
IMPLEMENT In order to initially meet those needs, activities were designed to utilize the strength-based approach to access the base of knowledge, skills, and cultural traditions from the participants. These activities were carried out by educators and middleschool students in the United States and Puerto Rico to develop student materials and training guides.
WHAT'S THE GOAL? The DSL program furthers our mission of engaging youth in global projects to collaborate and learn with their global peers as part of their regular classroom or after-school program curricula. This strengths-based approach will be fortified by engaging a broad coalition of stakeholders to create a STEM learning ecosystem. Engineering professionals and undergraduate engineering students will act as mentors to the clubs, providing Design Squad Latinx students with role models to envision pathways into engineering schools and professions. iEARN-USA envisions this program as a unique opportunity to contribute its expertise to equip Latinx students with the global competencies and design-thinking skills and networks needed to be successful in a 21st century workforce.
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I recommend this activity to be carried out with all the clubs because it gives the student a broader view of their skills and how they can apply them to the activities of the Engineering Clubs. -DSL Module Trainer
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WILL YOU SUPPORT US? Can you imagine a world where everyone is treated equally, a world where we break down the barriers that divide us and we embrace our diversity?
At iEARN-USA - we believe in that world! And, we are striving to build it. By leveraging technology to create a global virtual hub, we are connecting young people and classrooms across the world to encourage the breakdown of socioeconomic and cultural barriers while educating the change makers of tomorrow. We couldn’t do the work we do without the help of generous people like you.
Our organization earned a 2021 Gold Seal of Transparency! Now, everyone can view our financial details and learn about the people at our organization. Check out our updated #NonprofitProfile on Candid: