Regardless, life updates are due so I’ll try to catch up. In this post I’ll write about Global Classrooms and Ashoka.
Global Classrooms
In the beginning of February months of work and preparation finally came to fruition, Global Classrooms time!
Michael (the other Fulbrighter in my school) started preparing the kids in the fall and by November I too was involved. We had two different global classroom weeks, where we worked with kids on how to write position papers, the rules and formalities of debate and parliamentary procedure and writing resolutions.
Here's the great presentation Michael made with more photos and even some video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmH0ppkKxk
Starting in January we went into powermode and working very closely with the kids on their position papers, public speaking etc. Over those few weeks I got to know some of them much better, which was nice since I normally don´t have that much contact with the terceros.
Overall the whole conference was a huge success, and I think everyone was happy and proud of the kids. 10 different bilingual schools attended, each sending 22 delegates (11 countries per school). The event was two days long, starting with an opening ceremony in La Assemblea, where the politicians from the Comunidad de Madrid meet. The US Ambassador to Spain spoke, along with many others (the Ambassador is clearly a political appointee, his Spanish was horrible!) The next day was a full day of debating, and then the closing ceremonies back in La Assemblea.
(our kids!)
(la assemblea)
I was a director in the Latin American committee, which means that I helped lead the drafting and voting on resolutions part.
In my committee we only had two countries representing my school so I didn’t get the opportunity to see all of the kids in the other committees. However, I was super impressed with all of the students in our committee, they spoke well, had good points and were enthusiastic. Also, they spoke in English amongst themselves during the informal debates, which was very exciting!
The topic was access to primary education, which in theory is ideal because it´s very relevant to the kids but in practice wasn´t the most controversial topic. There isn´t too much debate on the importance of primary education, and many countries already have established good programs and have high rates of primary school attendance. Regardless, some of the draft resolutions in our committee had great ideas, like focusing on gender discrimination and indigenous languages. Chile (from our school) and Haiti were in our committee and wrote a very timely resolution (that was passed) on emergency education during natural disasters.
On the bus back to the Assemblea the Fulbrighters were all sitting on the bus, swapping stories and comparing notes of who was getting what prizes. I found out that we would be definitely receiving three prizes, but we actually received four! One was a surprise that I found out during the ceremony itself.
There was one student in particular that Michael and I had hoped would win most dedicated delegation (which we jokingly called the best hustle award). This particular student doesn´t have the best academic track record, and is currently repeating the year. She and her partner won an award and I videotaped their excited reaction on my camera. It was such a great moment! You can see the video I took on my camera in the youtube video.
Ashoka
The weekend after Global Classrooms I participated in my first Ashoka Spain event. Since mid January, I´ve been volunteering with Ashoka Spain whose headquarters is here in Madrid, just two metro stops from my piso. I´ve been really enjoying working the Kenny, one of the Ashoka people, and another volunteer Carmen. I´ve been helping with preparing some communication materials, translating videos and other social media network things. It´s been a great opportunity to practice Spanish, and learn new vocabulary that´s more professional – such as ¨lanzar un proyecto¨ launch a project, ¨crear conciencia¨ (increase awareness) etc.
It´s been a wonderful opportunity to learn about Ashoka from a more local-country level. Also, Jóvenes Changemakers (Spain´s version of Ashoka´s Youth Venture) is brand new this year, and launching it in Spain is a particular challenge because youth volunteerism is not very common or popular in Spain. We´ve had some interesting conversations about why that is, and comparing it to the United States. I´ve always been very involved in volunteerism, from Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity etc. and I´ve been reflecting on why I was, what that meant for my development as a person etc.
Anyway, Jóvenes Changemakers (Youth Venture as it is called in the States and most countries except for Latin America where it is Avancemos, ¨let´s advance¨) is Ashoka´s initiative to foster social entrepreneurship from a young age. Ashoka found that most social entrepreneurs have had those skills and approach since they were young. Rather than just focusing on finding these entrepreneurs once they are older, the idea is to actually foster this approach rather than just source it.
In Jóvenes Changemakers, we held the first pilot taller (mini-conference) in Madrid with a group of youth from a poor area in southern Madrid. Since Spain is so regionally diverse, other ones will be following in Catalunya and Pais Vasco hopefully later this year that takes into account other regional cultures and structures.
Here are the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48381687@N02/show/
In the taller (see this link for photos) we met with the students, did some brainstorming about how youth can change the world, what special skills youth have (ie. new ways of thinking about problems, aren’t old and boring like old people – there words, not mine). Then we worked with them on a problem identifying activity, and thinking about root causes to social issues and how to approach them.
The groups will then work closely with mentors to create a project plan and proposal, which they will present in front of a panel of professionals. Once the plan is approved, they will be given some seed money to launch their social venture.
I had a great time at the taller, had fun speaking with the kids and even went out for lunch with some Ashoka people and an Ashoka fellow afterwards. I’ve been helping them redesign their new website and meeting other volunteers they are getting involved. Recently I haven’t been doing too much because of travelling a lot over spring break etc.
Sorry this post has been a bit dry, but I wanted to give an update on what I’m actually doing (not just my colourful travel lifestyle) But, on that note, next blog will have trip highlights! Including Turkey, Germany, Northern Spain, Morocco and Ashley visiting!
