Global Scholar prepares young leaders who understand global challenges and have the skills to build a more peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world.
Our focus on both substance and skills is innovative and unique, and we are one of the only programs that offers participants concrete opportunities to get involved with issues they care about way after the summer is over.
Our curriculum is centered around three main components:
- Understanding global challenges facing our generation: We unpack key issues including security, poverty, climate change, health, wars, rights and justice. We explore the specific impacts of these challenges on our generation, and why we should care about addressing them. More broadly, we deconstruct the global system, including the roles and responsibilities of states, the United Nations, the G8 and citizens.
- Exploring the power of youth: We discuss how youth have successfully addressed challenges facing their communities and peers, and we hear directly from some of the most powerful young leaders working on global issues today.
- Building global leaders: We invest in young global leaders, through cutting-edge leadership, communications and policy workshops. Scholars have the opportunity to put their new skills into practice during Global Scholar via our G8 simulation and campaign competition, as well as after the program ends through our year-long, student-driven campaigns on global challenges.
Most days will include a seminar on a global issue, a skill building workshop, an evening activity, and of course plenty of time to relax and make new friends.
Seminars:
- International Relations for the Student Leader
- The Global Political System: the Role of the United Nations, G8, G20
- The Global Financial System: the Role of Corporations, Banks, Donors and the International Financial Institutions
- People Power: The Impact of Students and Social Movements over the Past 100 Years
- Hunger is Not a Game: The relationship between hunger, climate change and youth. **Note: we will be joined by youth activists from the Global South for this session, via Skype!**
- Does Facebook Have a Foreign Policy? The Role of Foundations, Social Media and the Private Sector in Addressing Global Challenges
- The Fight Against Global Poverty: Approaches for Empowering the 1.4 Billion People Living in Poverty
- The Global Politics of Food and Agriculture: Feeding the World in Times of Financial Crisis
- Promoting Human Rights, and the Development of Women and Girls Worldwide
- The Global Challenges of Climate Change
- The Politics of Natural Resources: Mining, Forests, Water
- Population and Health
- US-Muslim Relations Ten Years After 9/11
- The US Relationship with Iran
Workshops:
- Leadership 101: Qualities of Successful Leaders, Leading a Group, Strategic Planning
- Leadership 102: Persuasive Writing, Public Speaking, Storytelling and Evaluating Success
- Activist Toolbox: Events, Campaigns and Organizing
- Policymaking 101: An Insider’s View of Capitol Hill
- Advocacy 101: Identifying a Cause, Recruiting Your Peers to Change the World
- Advocacy 102: Interacting with Policymakers, Strategic Communications, Using Print and New Media
Special events:
- G8 (“Group of 8″) Simulation at the end of week 1
- Campaign Competition at the end of week 2
- Visits to Congressional offices representing Global Scholar hometowns
Fun time:
- Washington Nationals Baseball Game
- Fireworks on the National Mall (July 4)
- Jazz in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden
- Visits to National Gallery of Art, Museum of American History and other Smithsonian institutions
- Architectural Tour / Boat Tour of Washington DC
- Movie nights
- Talent show
- Dinners in downtown Washington, D.C.
This curriculum is tentative and subject to change.
