One World Youth Project was founded in 2004 by then 18 year-old Jessica Rimington from Massachusetts, United States. She now attends Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. Her involvement in youth 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. Jessica is a founding member of the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council. And, in 2002, she founded a community organization called the Cape Youth Council on Sustainability, which now includes students from 11 different schools. 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 and has spoken at various UN and activism events across the country.
|
Jessica Rimington in Ethiopia for
One World Youth Project |
FOUNDING STORY
Written by Jessica Rimington
In the summer of 2002, I was one of two U.S. students chosen to represent the Jane Goodall Institute and the United States at the Children’s Earth Summit (held in conjunction with the World Summit on Sustainable Development). The summit brought together over 100 young people from around the world to discuss a path toward a more sustainable future. The experience was amazing… young people from all over the world were together and ready to effect change!
But, half way through the summit conflict emerged. One night I was woken up at 2 am by some of the South African students. “Quick! Hurry! You have to come to the hall,” they said. “Some people want to vote the United States out of the Summit!!” I was astonished. There were only two of us from the U.S. We had been nothing but nice to everyone. This couldn’t be about who we were as people.
When I walked into the hall, I felt as though I was entering a secret meeting. There were about 40 students present, all sitting by country groups. After listening to debate and discussion, I quickly realized that this did indeed have nothing to do with me as a person. Instead I was a target because of what I “represented” coming from the United States. I was stereotyped.
That night we were able to work through the conflict and come together. But, the experience nonetheless changed my life. I was the first person from the United States many of the students attending had ever met. So, what if I hadn’t been there? What if we hadn’t become friends? Would they still be thinking the same things about all Americans? Would the stereotypes still exist within them? I am afraid the answer might be ‘yes’.
American youth are just as guilty. In a world increasingly impacted by globalization, it is ironic that in many ways the United States seems to be becoming increasingly isolated. U.S. teens often hold so many misperceptions of youth abroad. This led me to thinking. What if there was a program that facilitated cultural understanding, but at the same time taught youth leadership and empowered young people to take action on an issue and make a difference?
When I was at the United Nations for World Environment Day (June 2004), I had all these ideas floating around in my head. I was sitting there in the conference room –listening to everyone talk, and realizing what an amazing thing was happening. Young people from different cultures and countries were sitting next to each other, sharing ideas, coming up with new ideas, and building enthusiasm. Everyone was excited for the future. And it made me hopeful. By the end of the day I knew what I had to do. On the train ride home from the United Nations I started imagining what One World Youth Project could look like.
The next month, I decided to take a gap-year before attending Georgetown University in order to pursue the dream of creating the project. Many people told me I was crazy. They said it was impossible for an 18 year old with no money to found a non-profit and get it up and running in the two months before the new school year. But, they were wrong.
Below is an excerpt from Jessica's speech to the United Nations in New York City (August 2004) proposing the idea of One World Youth Project:
“I started to ask myself: how could we build a stronger global youth network? How could we better embody change? How could we facilitate cultural exchange? And, most importantly how could we sell this message, these actions, to the rest of the mainstream world effectively? And, I came up with an idea. And, because of this, I am standing before you at a crossroads in my life.
Up until 2 months ago I was fully intending to enroll in Georgetown University School of Foreign Service this fall where I was accepted. But, 2 months ago I was here at the UN, in a room similar to this one. It was filled with young people from all over the world. I was listening to everyone talk, and I realized what an amazing thing was happening. Young people from different cultures and countries were sitting next to each other, sharing ideas, coming up with new ideas, and building enthusiasm. Everyone was excited for the future. And it made me hopeful… If we want widespread change to happen, we have to spread this hope, and include others in the movement.
So, on my train ride home from New York two months ago I started to try to think of how this could be done. And I came up with an idea…an idea that has made me decide to delay my University education for one year...and to wait to attend Georgetown until fall 2005. It is called One World Youth Project. One World Youth Project is a pilot educational program that will link schools across the world together in a cultural exchange and leadership-building project.
I think now, more than ever, cultural exchange is extremely important. If we want to effect change, if we want to build a better future, we must first understand each other.
As Dr. Jane Goodall says, “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help. And, only if we help, shall all be saved.”
As young people we are not just the future. We are the present as well. We are the right here and right now! And, if we want to change the world, we have to not only take action ourselves but also inspire others to do the same.”
