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The ProjectThe Project…
One World Youth Project is a unique sister-school program for middle and high school students, linking groups in the US/Canada with groups from around the world together in learning partnerships for the purpose of community service toward the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Our philosophy is that through participating in cultural exchange, youth are inspired to take positive action. One World Youth Project’s innovative and fun educational program allows youth to explore and better understand their own community, while at the same time learning about the community of their sister-group overseas. It is through this process that participants discover friendship across borders, gain empowerment as they recognize the integral role each individual plays in a community, and realize the challenges that face our world. Each sister-group pair is assigned one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals on which to focus their year-long study and communication. Each sister-group ultimately takes action on their UN Millennium Development Goal through a local service project.
The intent is that through this process of cultural exchange and collaborative action, youth leave each program year with:
Our goal is create a more knowledgeable, compassionate, skilled, and understanding generation of global citizens while at the same time inspiring youth to take effective action now on the UN Millennium Development Goals. One World Youth Project is entirely run and operated by a volunteer staff of university-aged young people, called Project Ambassadors. We are not an organization or initiative under the umbrella of a larger entity. The organization was founded in 2004 by then 18 year old youth activist, Jessica Rimington and continues to remain true its original identity: an organization run by youth for youth. That’s perhaps why middle and high school age youth find our program so exciting –we make it fun…because as youth ourselves, we remember what was appealing in middle and high school.
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COMMUNICATION ** CURRICULUM ** COMMUNITY SERVICE
In order to inspire positive action through cultural exchange, One World Youth Project’s program is broken into three parts: communication, curriculum, and community service. Each project pair is assigned a Project Ambassador mentor who helps guide them through the entire program year.
Youth participants are able to communicate directly with their project pair group as well as with the entirel One World Youth Project community... here's how! Group to Group: Youth are able to directly communicate with the youth of their sister-school through: - pen-pal letter correspondence - password protected internet message-boards (click here) - OWYP’s Conversation Bursts
One World Youth Project groups are encouraged to participate in 'Conversation Bursts'. This is a time for ‘intensive’ communication between project pairs. At the beginning of the school year, each teacher or group leader is mailed a packet of Conversation Burst curriculum. For example, a curriculum activity may include: write a travel journal entry as if you were a visitor to your own town. During each Conversation Burst period, the teacher or group leader chooses one or more of the curriculum activities from the packet –or they can invent their own! Project Ambassadors often help coordinate the exchange of these activities.
OWYP Community: Beyond direct communication with their project pair, youth participants are also able to communicate with the entire OWYP Community. The OWYP Community is comprised of all th
To strengthen this community youth are able to communicate with other participants: - on the password protected internet message-boards - read news from participants all over the world - learn about the communities of the Project Ambassadors from their
One World Youth Project offers free curriculum resources to participating youth, teachers, and group leaders!
Each project pair is assigned one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to focus on. One World Youth Project provides a school year’s worth of monthly curriculum related to each MDG. For instance, if a school in Massachusetts and a school in Tanzania were working on MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseases, each school would receive an identical copy of a year’s worth of monthly curriculum related to MDG 6.
Each MDG is explored through a 7 month curriculum program centered on a real life, personal story. Each month participants learn more about a person whose life intersects with their MDG. Monthly curriculum activities are provided, which use the personal testimony as a jumping off point to explore the featured MDG in more depth. Participants (often through a teacher or group leader) submit their activity responses at the end of every month to One World Youth Project. These responses are posted –allowing participants to view all the responses from around the world, thus enriching the cultural exchange while simultaneously beginning to explore a need for positive action.
The goals of this curriculum are to:
Each project pair organizes a collaborative community service project working toward their focus UN Millennium Development Goal. **CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT PAST MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL ACTIONS!** In the winter each participating group starts to plan their MDG Service Project in collaboration with their partner pair. OWYP Project Ambassadors act as mentors.
By early spring, each group must have developed a community service project action plan and be ready to start implementing it. One World Youth Project in collaboration with Youth Service America provides each school/group with a GUIDE TO MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL ACTION. The teacher/group leader can choose to use this as curriculum or to let the youth use the guide as a resource. Youth are expected to complete their community service project by May. Since, both schools/groups within a project pair are working on the same MDG they are encouraged to communicate regarding their projects –sharing ideas, successes, challenges, and perhaps thoughts for future collaboration.
OPPORTUNITIES
MDG Awareness Day: Every April in collaboration with Youth Service America’s Global and National Youth Service Day, One World Youth Project organizes a one-day MDG Awareness effort. Each year the day is focused on a different MDG. News: Participating groups are encouraged to regularly submit news and updates to be posted on the One World Youth Project website and occasionally to take the form of project coordinated press releases.
Newsletter: One World Youth Project produces an email Newsletter regarding project work.
Youth Summits: One World Youth Project has held youth summits in regional locations as a chance for participating youth from a specific area to share ideas, participate in leadership training, and take action together for the MDGs.
Documentaries: Sometimes Project Ambassadors are able to travel to school locations to help youth film a documentary representing their community and culture and exchange with their sister-school overseas. Youth Leadership Workshops: If in the region, Project Ambassadors will visit school locations to conduct leadership workshops. Students, Armani & Jonathan, from New Orleans meet with Senator Vitter
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One World Youth Project's Core Principles... YOUTH LEADERSHIP
PASSION TO ACTION
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH IMPORTANCE “If you walk away thinking one thing, let it be – that you’re important…For many reasons that I’m sure your parents are aware of –but also because it is your responsibility to protect and sustain your future. You cannot count on others doing it for you. And, it is your job to inspire others to do the same. Because in actuality… it’s not just your future –it’s my future too… and his future …and her future… it OUR future.” -Founder, Jessica Rimington, speech at Global Young Leaders Conference 2006 EVERYONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE Through One World Youth Project, we hope to help young people realize that each and every day they are making a difference. The choices one makes daily make a difference in the world. We believe that just as one’s action can have a positive effect on the world one’s inaction can have a negative effect. It’s up to each of us to decide what kind of difference we choose to make. THE WAY FORWARD IS THROUGH COLLABORATION One World Youth Project emphasizes collaboration for action. We stray away from the common notion of ‘charity’ and instead stand firm that every region of the world and every person on this planet has something productive, integral, and creative to offer. It is through combined strengths that we will affect significant change in the world. “Country borders are just things we made up,” says Founder Jessica Rimington. “There are deeply interwoven things within us that are universal. We’re all in this together. Which means it is imperative we work together.” One World Youth Project is flexible to meet the needs and conditions of varying schools and youth groups. Each school partnership does not operate in exactly the same way. We work with each school or youth group to determine what type of program works best with their environment and situation.
========================================================================= Read what teachers have to say...
"I'm involved with One World Youth Project in order to help my students go beyond the textbook...the project allows our students to reach out beyond the confines of their classroom, their state, and their nation." -Sally Meredith, Teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana "If you could see the looks in the students' eyes when they know they are going to be working on the project; they're excited... you can see it in their faces and voices!...students are having those 'aha!' moments that you rarely see in the classroom." Students in New Orleans write a Declaration -Paul Niles, Teacher in Orleans, Massachusetts
"The Project has introduced our community to the United Nations Millennium Goals which are critical to the global alignment of countries and communities behind a common set of objectives necessary for achieving socioeconomic development, particularly in communities like ours in Arusha. Tothis end, (our) Center and its youth leaders and participants have become active in various environmental improvement initiatives, and in carrying out educational efforts on Malaria." -Felix A. Nyakatale, Program Director of a Community Center in Arusha, Tanzania Youth & community members work together to clean up their environment
"There are so many benefits to the program. For one thing students take on leadership roles that guide them in a positive direction...This project has really appealed to these students...it's changed their attitude toward school and their peers." -Kathy Renyer, Director of the International Baccalaureate program in Danville, Virginia
Students from Virginia spoke at a 2005 Congressional Reception on the importance of universal primary education
========================================================================= United Nations Millennium Development Goals…
To learn more about the UN Millennium Development Goals visit:
========================================================================= Project Ambassadors…One World Youth Project is entirely run and operated by a volunteer staff of young people called Project Ambassadors.
Jessica Rimington– Executive Director & Founder [USA] Jessica Rimington is a global advocate for youth participation in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, educational reform, the value of cultural exchange, and social/environmental justice. Jessica attends Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. Her involvement in activism began when she was twelve and joined the Jane Goodall Institute's global environmental and humanitarian program for youth, Roots & Shoots. In 2002 she was one of two U.S. students chosen to travel to South Africa to represent the Jane Goodall Institute and the U.S. at the Children's Earth Summit (held in conjunction with the World Summit on Sustainable Development). As the Youth Correspondent for the Jane Goodall Institute she has also attended World Refugee Day where she interviewed UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, the Bioneers Conference in California, and the United Nation's Peace Youth Summit. In 2002, Jessica founded a community organization called the Cape Youth Council on Sustainability, which now includes students from 11 different schools. In 2004, she organized a Rock the Vote event and directed a documentary emphasizing youth participation in politics. Jessica was the recipient of the 2004 BRICK Award from Do Something as well as the Massachusetts Governor's Points of Light Award. She is also a winner of the 2005 Brower Youth Awards. She has been a keynote speaker along side Dr. Jane Goodall and former President Bill Clinton as well as a speaker at UN World Environment Day, the UN Youth Assembly, the UN International Day of Peace Celebration, ATHGO Symposium, and the Green Festival. She moderated the youth forum at the 2005 Bioneers conference and gave the keynote address at the 2006 Global Young Leaders Conference. She loves traveling, dancing, & spoken word poetry. Jessica@oneworldyouthproject.org
Jennifer lives in Lagos, Nigeria . She loves to write, read mind building books, perform poetry, cook and listen to music. She also loves to meet people and make new friends. Her first book "In Days to Come" was published in England by the young poet society and she currently writes a Youth Column for a National Newspaper in Nigeria. Although very passionate about broadcasting and Journalism, this optimistic young lady has spent the past three years learning about community development issues, traveling and volunteering both locally and internationally as one of the Global Xchange active global citizens committed to working for a positive change. She loves working with young people and looks forward to making a positive difference as one of OWYP's Project Ambassadors. Jennifer@oneworldyouthproject.org Jesse Falk-Finley- Executive Council Member [USA] Jesse Falk-Finley is a happy fellow. He is 21 and attends the University of Chicago where he often has impromptu debates with economics majors who hail Milton Friedman and do not question the detrimental global impact of the Chicago School of Economics. Jesse is interested in promoting and inciting change through various types of media. He has experience in print journalism, photography, and digital video production. After learning the power of these mediums first hand, he hopes to spread the possibility of documenting and exploring existence on this planet to those who are usually not provided the means to present and share their perspective. Jesse is currently working with Alliance for Justice at their Oakland, CA office. Jesse@oneworldyouthproject.org
Prior to One World Youth Project, she participated in numerous youth movements and conferences such as UNEP International Children Conference about environment (ICCE) as a representative of Morocco in 2004, ESI (international scientific exhibition) in Grenoble, France 2002. She also participated in 2005 in the GECAP Morocco and collaborated to the national survey about the progress of Millennium development goals implementation, 2005. In her OWYP role, and while she mentored OWYP Morocco Group, she organized a youth debate about desertification for the UNEP Desertification Day, and worked during one year with Ennajda Center ( NGO helping battered women) and OWYP Morocco Group on the MDG 2. In summer 2007, she was member of the executive committee of One World Africa Youth Summit (OWAYS) on “Building Active 21st century citizenship: meeting unique challenges with innovative solutions” in Accra, Ghana. She is the primary organizer of OWYP MDG Awareness Day, a yearly event for OWYP participants to raise awareness on the UN Millennium Development Goals made in collaboration with Global and National Youth Service Day (GYSD). Soumaya@oneworldyouthproject.org
Keerat is a sophomore at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She plans to major in International Politics with a concentration in International Law, Ethics, and Institutions and obtain a certificate in International Development. At Georgetown she is an Executive Board Member of Our Education, a Young Leaders in Education about Diversity Mentor, member of the Academic Council's Social Action Committee, member of Education Without Boundaries, member of Amnesty International, and member of Students Taking Action Now in Darfur. Her interests include social justice, education, diversity issues, politics, and foreign affairs. In my free time I like to read, paint, travel, and just hang out with friends. She also loves learning new languages. Currently, she is proficient in English, Punjabi, and Spanish and wants to learn French and Arabic in the future. This summer she is a START/FORECAST intern at the Academy for Educational Development. She greatly admires the work One World Youth Project is doing and is really excited to work with the organization! Keerat@oneworldyouthproject.org
Alexandra (Sasha) is an active young lady from Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek. She has been involved into different social activities since 9th grade and still is very passionate about her dream to make a world a better place to live. Currently she is studing law in Russian- Kyrgyz Slavic University. She has organized her first project (English club) with poorly-sighted children working together with UNV program. Already during that period she has been spreading info among her peers about Millennium Development Goals. Half of the decade has passed and she has organized about 30 different projects working with young people, disabled, aged people, prisoners, orphans and future leaders of her country. She has also organized several Charity Balls and Clean-Up campaigns. In 2003 she became an outstanding speaker during UN Model in Kyrgyz Republic. In 2004 she became a FLEX exchange student in USA, CO. In 2005 she won a CLOSE UP scholarship to attend a seminar in DC on civil education. In 2006 she became a coordinator of 650 young people in Kyrgyzstan who had gone on different exchange programs. She has been working with them till present time. In 2006 she has been working with 40 young people from Afghanistan teaching such things as diversity and different cultures.. She believes that the world is too round to sit silently in the corner and that is why she loves traveling, meeting new people, sharing ideas, passion and building team of future leaders. Alexandra@oneworldyouthproject.org
Jeff Arak [USA] Jeff has never been one to balk at the opportunity to teach, learn or grow. He recently received his academic degree in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from Brandeis University in Massachusetts and is continuing his "studies" in Mexico this summer, setting up a media lab in a Zapotec town on the coast and teaching filmmaking workshops to a youth group. This project is funded by the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Project for Peace foundation. Jeff plans on continuing his interests in film in California after his grant runs out by making socially conscious documentaries with like-minded souls. He is fully prepared to give all his energy to working with the OWYP in combating poverty and ignorance in the world. Jeff@oneworldyouthproject.org
A student at the School of Tomorrow in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Eyoel Berhane Asfaw is co-founder and President of the Diplomats’ Club, and initiated student council at the school. An aspiring engineer and psychologist, he hopes to merge his two greatest passions – computers and humanitarian work – in his future career. He has participated actively in numerous workshops and seminars including an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop for youth organized by UNICEF and a workshop organized by the Pontifical Academy of Science in the Vatican. Eyoel has traveled extensively including: the Vatican, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Italy, and Ghana. In his free time, Eyoel likes to spend time on the beach in San Diego or debate politics. Eyoel@oneworldyouthproject.org
Anwanakak Richard is a graduate of Computer Science, at the University of Abuja. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria. He has interests in youth development, music, the business world and community development. He has just concluded the Global Xchange program where he volunteered for 6 months in both Nigeria and the UK as an active global citizen committed to positive change. He is presently undergoing training to help him build on his basic life skills and management skills. He is committed to personal development because believes that one needs to develop one's self constantly in all aspects of life. He loves to sing, dance, listen to music, watch movies, and play football. Richard@oneworldyouthproject.org
Ashima Bhardwaj lives in Dehradun, India. She is deeply committed to environmental, health, and disability issues. Ashima has participated in Nasha Mukti Goshthi, a convention to discuss the concerns surrounding drug consumption among urban youth and also played an integral role in the Eco Camp organized by RFSTE. For years Ashima has been speaking in public in an effort to raise awareness about environmental issues. In 2002, she spoke about the importance of preserving the ozone layer before representatives of 17 premier educational institutions. Throughout high school Ashima initiated awareness campaigns by forming students groups focusing on education, poverty, environment, and health. Recently, she has participated in the foundation course for special education of the disabled and the convention on 'pulse polio' with senior state officials and World Health Organization representatives. Continuing with her efforts to bring awareness to the plight of the disabled in India, Ashima has visited and researched the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, the Bajaj Institute of Learning for the Deaf, the National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped, Sharp Memorial School for the Blind, and the Cheshire Home. Ashima has also conducted a survey in the remote village of Jaitanwala on the counseling of disabled persons. In addition to all this, Ashima is also a talented musician and songwriter. She loves singing, traveling, dancing, and reading. Ashima’s role model is Mother Teresa. Ashima@oneworldyouthproject.org
Gardy Jean Gilles [USA/HAITI]
Jean is deeply passionate about humanitarian work. In 2004, he assisted and helped after cyclone George which killed over 2500 people in Fonds-Verrettes, Haiti. He is also an active member of APPGC (Association des Petits Planteurs de Gros-Cheval), an organization that promotes education, food, shelter, and forestation in the community of Gros-Cheval, Fonds-Verrettes. In 2006, Jean was awarded by Big Brother Big sister for his excellent work with the children of Las Vegas, NM. Currently, he is a student at Hood College in Frederick, MD where he is achieving a double major in Global economy, business administration and a minor in Web development. Through Hood College, Jean is a volunteer/intern for UNESCO Centre for Peace. He is also a talented musician. He plays flute, piano, guitar, and drums. In 2006, Jean was one of the two selected musicians to play in a graduation in which Queen Noor Jordan was the invited guess speaker at the United World College. In his spare time, he enjoys reading about politics, economics, and listening/ playing music. Gardy@oneworldyouthproject.org
Ai Ching Goh [UK/MALAYSIA] Ching is a Malaysian, currently based in Europe and has been actively involved in various societies, e.g. Girl Scouts in Korea, American Field Service in Italy, SEATRU Turtle Conservation project, Raleigh International Gap Year project (Youth Development), Senior Fundraiser for the University Alumni Fund. She is currently involved in the largest student run- organisation in the world, AIESEC, which organises foreign work placements. She recently graduated from Bristol in Experimental Psychology but has no intentions to be a mind-reader, therefore is on the look out for exciting NGO opportunities in Europe. She believes in the role of youth in eliminating the vicious circle of poverty and would love to be back in Malaysia to introduce a Non profit organisation with such goals, but still needs a lot of help. In her spare time, Ching talks to anyone and anything, contemplates current piscatorial issues (vegetarian but eats fish), tries meditating for 10 minutes, loves travelling, being with her friends and eating on top of everything else. Aiching@oneworldyouthproject.org
Kartika is twenty years old and is from Kalimantan Timur (east Borneo), Indonesia. She got full scholarship twice, first: was from the US government to stay and study there for a year (2004-2005) in AFS (American Field Service) / YES (Youth Exchange Student) program, second: was from Youth and Sport Ministry of Indonesia cooperated with Canada World Youth to stay and volunteer for three and a half months each in British Columbia, Canada and West Sumatra, Indonesia (2006-2007) in Indonesia-Canada Youth Exchange program. She loves everything about youth leadership, culture exchange, education, global issues workshops, and community service. Kartika graduated high school in two years (2002-2004). Now, she studies in Mulawarman University majoring in International Relations. She also tutors (freelance), which sometimes for free. She also loves languages! She’s learned Japanese, Spanish (which she’s focusing now), and of course fluent in English. Cause of that she’s chosen to be one of the Language Ambassadors of her province (must master Bahasa Indonesia, traditional / native and foreign languages) and was the youngest English debate competitions jury for high school students in West Sumatra-Riau-Jambi (March 2007) and Kalimantan Timur (April 2007). In her free-time, she’d love to sing, read, write, dance, and listen to the music. Her wildest dreams are: to gather children from around the world and to go to Africa! Kartika@oneworldyouthproject.org
Odai Horani, 16, is a student at the Friends Boys School. He has been involved with community service work since he was ten years old when he joined the Greece-Palestine of Peace youth organization and traveled to Greece. Since then he has consistently participated in a variety of community outreach service work including volunteering with Red Crescent. He believes that helping people and achieving goals is so important to the world because if one person starts to help people and that influences more people to help others, then eventually we will live in a small loving world. Odai is very interested in all kinds of technology - computers, electronics, , robots…everything, but feels a particular passion for film making which he feels is an excellent medium to show the world that young people are interested in achieving peace. Odai is also passionate about sports and music but doesn’t neglect his school work! He likes to keep busy, learn new things and look at things from a different point of view. Owdi@oneworldyouthproject.org
Tina Huang is a graduate student studying International Development at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. A fellow at the Institute for International Public Policy, she has received advanced training in policy research, leadership and communications. Her research, advocacy and media and communications work and consulting experiences include work locally at Citizens' Committee for Children, Project by Project and internationally with Instituto Jalisciense de la Juventud and most currently with InterMedia Survey Institute. She is passionate about youth engagement at the local, national and international level and is committed to developing and encouraging the youth voice in policymaking and social entreprenuership. Tina was profiled in American Democracy Now (McGraw Hill, 2008) and a featured guest speaker on XPRESATE radio Guadalajara, Mexico in 2008. She was also an American Delegate on the social service and acitvism table at the 55th Japan America Student Conference in Tokyo, Japan and engaged both Japanese and American students on the topics of youth activism, the Asian American Diaspora and East Asian Relations. She is the founder of Chinese Adopted Sibs at Wesleyan, which works with Families of Children from China to enhance leadership, community building, and advocacy for adopted children's issues through mentorship. She is also fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin and conversant in Spanish. Tina@oneworldyouthproject.org
Al King [LIBERIA] Al lives in Monrovia and has a B.A degree from the United Methodist University (UMU) in Sociology and International Relations. He played an active role in student leadership serving as the first President for the Political Science Students Association and Vice Chairman for the Student Rally for Academic Progress and Democracy (one of two political parties at the UMU). He intends to pursue a career in International Law. He currently serves as the regional representative for the Student World Assembly in Liberia and has also worked with many organization voluntarily including Volunteers in Liberia (VIL) and Peace Child Liberia. Due to his hard work and commitment he has been appointed as Board Member on the board of the Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD- Liberia). Al@oneworldyouthproject.org
Peninah (Penny) is a 21 year old Kenyan studying at Salem State College, Massachusetts - majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. From an early age she has had a deep passion for reaching out to the less fortunate in society especially from developing countries like hers - with an emphasis on the girl Child of Africa. She does this through participation is various non governmental organizations such as serving as a case manager or the Girl Child Network that advocates for marginalized girls in rural Kenya; participation at the 22nd and 23rd session of the East African Model United Nations as a delegate representing Bhutan and Myanmar's economic and human rights Committees. She also currently serves as chair corp representative for Wheels for the world and Chariots of Destiny -both NGOs that advocate for accessibility options through provision of wheelchairs to the disabled in developing countries. During her leisure time, Penny loves swimming , reading autobiographies, meeting people from across the globe and travelling. Her personal mantra is "Do not be afraid of loosing sight of the shore because then you will never discover new waters!" Penny@oneworldyouthproject.org
Abdunuur lives in Arusha, Tanzania. He currently attends the East Africa College in Arusha, studying International Relations and Diplomacy. His spirit of Leadership began when he was very young at Primary school, where he led the school communities and the Society Trainings, in 2001 he was selected to be the peer educator of his school and attended the HIV/AIDS and Peer Educator Trainings. In 2003 he was elected to be the General Secretary of his high school until he completed high school in 2005. In the year 2004 he attended the Behavior Change and Communications Training from CHAWAKUA. He has also attended the leadership trainings of EDUCO (South Africa) Team at MCW Arusha, and Scouts from ZAMBIA. Abdunuur is the founder and managing director of the Perfect Youth Group and the Community Center Coordinator at Dr. Herman Wrice Youth Empowerment Village (MCWT) and he is spearheading the MDG’s in communities in Tanzania. He has been selected to be the youth advisor as a YAG member of ISHI Campaign for HIV/AIDS for Arusha Municipal. Abdunuur has worked closely with One World Youth Project since its pilot project year. He is talented in Traditional Dance. Abdunuur loves to dance, sing, write, and exchange ideas with others. Abdu@oneworldyouthproject.org
Laura Napoli lives in Chicago, Illinois and currently attends the University of Chicago Law School. At school, she serves on the Moot Court Committee of the International Law Society and tutors children on Saturdays through the school's Neighbors Program. In her spare time, Laura also serves as a Persuasive Writing and Advocacy Tutor with RESPECT University in Uganda through the UN's Online Volunteering program. Prior to attending law school, Laura worked and interned with several different organizations, including the Child Welfare Organizing Project and NBC News. Laura speaks English and French and is learning Spanish and Italian. Her hobbies and interests include running, singing, playing piano, hiking, traveling, swimming, cooking and kickboxing. Laura@oneworldyouthproject.org
Anthony Oman lives in Fairfax, Virginia and is a high school student attending Paul VI. He has an international background from living in countries from Asia to northern Europe. Anthony participated in The Hague International Model United Nations conference where as many as 2,000 delegates attended. He has always been interested in working with an international community of people and learning more about the world. Anthony has been involved in the student council in his previous schools creating a better learning place for the students and staff. Anthony speaks Spanish fluently and has a South American background. Anthony enjoys all types of activities from working outside to indoors, and is up for many different ideas. Anthony@oneworldyouthproject.org
Christian Rusangwa [RWANDA]
Christian is a medical student at the National University of Rwanda. volunteer at the Rwanda Village Concept Project which is an international youth organization. The aim of this organisation is to improve the living conditions in underprivileged communities through increased self-reliance and responsibility. Since 2003, he has been involved in different activities regarding gender empowerment, malaria prevention, and HIV/AIDS education. He is now a youth leader for the Medical Students Association of Rwanda where he raises both adult and youth community awareness on prevention against communicable diseases. He also works on promoting equity between women and men through different strategies. He has attended an international school on Millennium Development Goals in the framework of the "University on Youth and Development" held at the Euro-Latin American Youth Centre in Spain; and recently attended the Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit held in Orlando, Fl from April 19th to 25th 2008. Christian@oneworldyouthproject.org
Bhalayogasthini Sivayoganathan is a graduate of K/ Girls’ High School in Sri Lanka and is currently attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She has been involved in various leadership & social activities since her childhood. She also a member of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and has co-coordinated various events with this institute. She is also an action partner of Srilankan Youth parliament (SLYP) and is working for youth empowerment. She speaks English, Tamil & Sinhala as well as a little bit of Hindi & French. In her past, she has been involved in various activities like Girl guiding, Debating, School choirs and School drama team. She loves helping people in need. She was the leader of Tsunami help aid programme organized by her school in an effort to help the victims in the tsunami-affected area. She considers this effort a big accomplishment in life. In her free time, she loves reading (Harry potter, Da Vinci code, Dale Carnegie series to name a few!), listening to classical music, chatting, and spending time with Friends. Gasthi@oneworldyouthproject.org
Mary P. Smith [USA] Mary "Mimi" Smith is from the San Francisco Bay Area and now spends most of her time in Washington, D.C as a student at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is pursing a degree in Comparative Studies between Africa and Latin America and a certificate in International Development. At university, she participates in the Social Action Committee, Students for Barack Obama, and the Magis Immersion and Social Justice Program. In 2006, Mimi attended the California Girls State Conference, where she led her group's Board of Education. In 2007, she graduated from Saint Ignatius College Prep as the valedictorian of her class and recipient of the awards for Social Sciences and Journalism. More recently, she served on the U.S. National Planning Committee for World Food Day and co-authored an article in the 2008 Study and Action Module, which was used to raise awareness about global hunger and the contemporary food crisis and educate United States citizens regarding their role in addressing these enormous challenges. In March 2008, she travelled to El Salvador as a member of a ten person delegation that met with urban and rural community leaders and youth to explore the social, economic, and political circumstances and grassroots solutions to the poverty and violence that grip the country. In addition to Spanish, Mimi speaks Portuguese and is learning Swahili. Language acquisition and cultural exploration dominate her spare time. She immensely enjoys travelling absolutely anywhere, sampling a variety of global cuisines, running in the beautiful parks of Washington and northern Virginia, and reading the daily editorials, histories of all people and places, and Irish, American, and South African literature. She hopes to complete a Master of Science in Foreign Service, and perhaps later attend medical school and join an organization such as Medecins Sans Frontieres or the World Food Program. So, yes, she looks forward to being in school for a very long time! Mimi@oneworldyouthproject.org
Cady Voge lives in Berkeley, California where she graduated from a social justice based small school within Berkeley High School called CAS (Communication Arts and Sciences). Cady also participated in the CAS leadership class which plans CAS events and curriculum. She is now a senior at U.C. Davis. Cady has a passion for humanitarian work, particularly social justice issues relating racial equity. Cady is also very interested in AIDS prevention work and was a team leader for AIDS Walk San Francisco 2004. She is on the Youth Leadership Council for the Alameda County Office of Education, which works to encourage and provide ways for youth to have a voice in their schools and communities. Cady has a passionate interest in other languages and cultures. She recently helped coordinate One World Youth Project’s work with Mexico and also mentored a school in Oakland that was working on the Project. In the spring of 2006, Cady was instrumental in organizing the first One World USA Youth Summit. Cady is also experienced in film editing. Cady@oneworldyouthproject.org
Behar Xharra, 23, has been fortunate enough to have had a wide-range of experiences (lived through the Kosovo conflict in 1999, was a refugee in Albania the same year, studied at Earlham College in Indiana, USA, and lastly returned to Kosovo to help rebuild the country), which all together not only helped him understand the importance of humanity, education, peace and development, but also gave him a strong spirit for activism in that regard. Behar has had a leadership role in organizing Model United Nations Conferences for hundreds of high school students from the Midwest America; has put together conferences to promote understanding of international organizations and further explore possibilities for peace and development (including the MDGs initiative) and has been involved with the Americans for Informed Democracy organizing live video-conferences with students from other countries. In 2007, he was one of the 100 students to win the Kathryn Wasserman 100 Projects for Peace competition, which enabled him to return to Kosovo to develop an initiative that promotes regional cooperation and dialogue through technological means. Behar has a B.A. Honors in International Studies and European Affairs from Earlham College and currently works for UNDP as a local expert in a project that promotes the MDGs at the Assembly of Kosovo. Behar@oneworldyouthproject.org
Zuhur Yassin [SOMALIA] Zuhur Yassin, 22 from Somaliland, has a voice and a vision, and is passionate about using both to create positive change. She enjoys traveling and loves learning different languages. She is studying Journalism and Mass Communication in the University of Hargeisa and is using her skills to write about various issues affecting the community and bringing people’s attention to them. She is an Action Partner with Oxfam international Youth Partnership and also volunteers with the Somaliland Culture and Sports Association (SOCSA), a non-government organization designed to improve the lives of young people in the community by teaching skills, sports, providing services and resources, etc. Zuhur encourages young people that each person can make a difference and take action in their communities. She is positive that it is possible to make a difference and change the future of her community. She has participated in events nationally and international making her voice heard and helping and playing a part in making a brighter future for all. She wants to see Somaliland be a positive role model for other communities in Africa and around the world and “Starting small is what she believes in.” Zuhur@oneworldyouthproject.org
Hubert is 24, and a student at National University of Rwanda where he studies medicine. He is interested in global health and humanitarian work. He is the coordinator of RwanDAnmark project which is the partnership initiative between Rwandese and Danish medical students who work to promote women health conditions in southern region of Rwanda and to help students in capacity building skills through volunteering, workshops and seminars. Hubert has volunteered many years in community based micro projects as well as Rwanda Village Concept Project, Unite for Sight/Rwanda chapter and the Standing Committee on Reproductive health and AIDS of the Medical Students Association of Rwanda. He has attended seminars on peer education, reproductive health, family planning and HIV/AIDS. He has good experience in culture and education exchange programs. He speaks English, French and Swahili, he has good computer skills. He loves swimming, traveling and enjoying great moments with his family and friends. He is dreaming for his future medical work and international health career. Hubert@oneworldyouthproject.org |
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One World Youth Project is a non-profit 501[c]3 corporation founded in Massachusetts. Participation is free of charge. Groups wishing to participate as a sister-school must apply. Applications are reviewed annually in July. 
e participating sister-schools and Project Ambassador staff from around the world. 
One World Youth Project defines youth leadership as: action and organization initiated and maintained by young people. Youth leaders need mentors and tools, rather than instructions. Youth leadership is sustainable if the young people feel ownership. All people desire to invest their time and skills in what they feel deeply a part of; young people are no different in this way. Youth leadership is successful when creative, flexible, but also practical. Not all youth leaders are practical from the beginning. Trial and error corrects this. Mentors can also help by showing (providing examples), rather than telling. Youth leaders need time and space to practice leadership and business skills. They want to feel listened to and respected. They need responsibility in order to be motivated. Without true responsibility youth know they can always fall back on someone else; and they might rely on this rather than stepping up to the plate for action. Leadership is developed when youth know they are the only one who will do a task… in other words: if they don’t do it, no one else will. Leadership comes from passion and compassion. Mentors can show their own enthusiasm to help inspire passion in a young person. It’s contagious! Mentors can provide the tools, facts, and time to teach/show the stories of the world. This knowledge leads to compassion, which in turn leads to the desire for action. "The bridge that exists between the vision that we have and the reality that we are a part of, can only be crossed by the youth,” says OWYP Vice President, Ashima Bhardwaj.
Oprah Winfrey once said, “A passion should be as natural as breathing.” We want young people to discover what they find enjoyable, exciting, what comes naturally to them, and what they care deeply about –that is a passion. This passion can be anything from dance to the study of marine mammals to business to soccer. We hope that youth discover early on in life what makes them happy. It is myth that in order to be a change-maker one has to give up a part of one’s life. We ask youth to imagine using their passion as a way to affect to change. We ask youth to live their passions in a way that makes a positive impact in the world. We ask them to do what makes them happy in a way that makes others happy too. We don’t need a generation of tired and detached politicians, activists, and economists. We need a generation of people living positively. That means living the life you want to live in a way that also positively affects the world. 
Jennifer Ehidiamen-Executive Council Member [NIGERIA]
Soumaya Maghnouj- Executive Council Member [MOROCCO]
Keerat Pannu- Executive Council Member [USA]
Eyoel Asfaw [ETHIOPIA]
Richard Asuquo [NIGERIA]
Ashima Bhardwaj – [INDIA]
Kartika Hariyani [INDONESIA]
Odai Horani
Tina Huang [USA]
Peninah Njeri Marenge [USA/Kenya]
Laura Napoli [USA]
Anthony Oman [USA]
Gasthini Sivayoganathan [SRI LANKA/USA]
Cady Voge [USA]
Behar Xharra 
Hubert Zirimwabagabo [RWANDA]