EMPATHY: Empowering & Moulding Peace Activists Through Humanitarian Youth
EMPATHY stimulates cross-cultural exchange amongst kids, enhancing international relations, creating young leaders & cultivating world peace.
A propos de vous
A propos de vous
Prénom
Shannon
Nom
Mouillesseaux
URL Twitter
A propos de votre organisation
Nom
I worked several years for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, www.unhcr.org), but this is a personal idea
Site Web
Pays
États Unis, NY, Spencer, Tioga County
Pays dans lesquels ce projet crée un impact social
Afghanistan, KAB, Nasaji Bagrami IDP Camp & Spencer-Van Etten Central School, Spencer, NY
Votre organisation est-elle une
a. organisation à but non lucratif
Votre rôle dans l’éducation : [case à cocher]
Autre.
Le type d’école(s) à laquelle votre solution est destinée :
Publique (pas de frais de scolarité)
Depuis combien de temps votre organisation opère-t-elle ?
Moins d'un année
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Innovation
Sélectionnez la phase qui s'applique le mieux à votre solution
Idée (vous êtes sur le point de lancer le projet)
Depuis combien de temps votre solution est-elle en vigueur?
Encore au stade de l'idée, mais il sera bientôt lancé
Le besoin : quel problème tentez-vous de résoudre ?
The majority of the world lives in poverty, often with limited access to basic needs. Yet, a small minority enjoys lavish abundance. This has created a palpable divide in our world.
War & terrorism have exacerbated these divisions & fed cross-cultural misunderstandings – lending to ethnocentrism & animosity, & fuelling terrorism & militancy.
Technology, like planes & internet, foster cross-cultural exchange, understanding & unity. However, such luxuries are available almost exclusively to the affluent.
EMPATHY strives to reverse this trend, connecting isolated, disadvantaged communities, (120 rural Americans & 120 IDP Afghan students) & eradicating prejudices to create space for lasting peace.
La solution: quelle solution proposez-vous ? Soyez précis !
- Build empathy & provide cross-cultural education to shrink the divide & promote peace, targeting & engaging isolated communities & providing them opportunity to experience the world electronically & learn from each other. It exposes children & communities to international experience they might not have otherwise, & provides a space to dispel misconceptions & improve cross-cultural understanding.
- Link 2 communities with different cultural & social backgrounds but (in)directly involved with war & displacement. EMPATHY will be implemented (preliminary 3 years) at Spencer-Van Etten School (U.S.) & Nasaji Bagrami IDP Camp (Afghanistan) for 240 total children, aged 5-18 years. The most at-risk children participate.
- Use technology to bridge groups. All Nasaji Bagrami schoolchildren benefit from ESL/computer courses. Courses are age-, gender- & culturally sensitive.
Le système : décrivez un exemple spécifique montrant de quelle façon votre initiative fonctionne ; indiquez vos principales activités.
EMPATHY teaches international relations & fosters cross-cultural understanding through video conferencing between rural U.S. children & displaced Afghans. Without EMPATHY, Afghan children may develop misconceptions about Americans due to their experience with war & displacement, triggering animosity & even extremism. Rural American children may develop misconceptions of the world & not understand the reality faced by children in countries at war.
EMPATHY students experience the world beyond familiar borders & develop new understandings of each other. Afghan children interact with Americans their age not linked with the Afghan conflict. American children see the effects of war & poverty. This exposure helps children learn firsthand the world’s realities, begin to eradicate misconceptions, & advocate for justice.
This is accomplished through varied means.
All students:
- online classes (international relations, politics, history & geography & influence of culture on our understanding of each);
- courses on effective cross-cultural communication & basic Farsi/English;
- media material to share experience widely.
U.S.:
- humanitarian service, identifying & responding to IDP needs;
- volunteer travel (safe developing country) to assist displaced communities;
- “Buddy” program to connect U.S. students with locally resettled refugees & aid in their adaptation.
Afghanistan:
- intensive ESL & computer courses to gain skills comparable to global peers.
Le marché : qui sont vos collègues et vos concurrents ? Identifiez les autres personnes qui travaillent à répondre au même besoin et indiquez ce qui vous différencie d'elles. Comment ces concurrents pourraient-ils influencer votre réussite ou votre croissance ?
Rotary & study abroad encourage cross-cultural exchange but are restricted to high schools/universities. EMPATHY targets students of all ages to shape their understanding of the world from childhood.
iEARN’s YouthCan/Debunking Stereotypes projects similarly use technology to connect students. However, YouthCan focuses on environmentalism & Debunking Stereotypes solely concerns stereotypes. Numerous short-term projects/conferences also connect students globally.
EMPATHY fills a niche by connecting countries whose governments are “friendly” but whose civilians generally distrust one another; connecting the 99% (poor U.S. region with Afghans largely displaced by U.S.); integrating the 1%; providing classes taught by educators from both countries; & involving travel.
Maintenant que vous avez bien réfléchi à votre participation, aidez-nous à la présenter.
décrivez votre organisation, votre programme ainsi que les services ou les produits proposés (1 ou 2 phrases brèves). [136 caractères/25 mots]
EMPATHY stimulates cross-cultural exchange amongst kids, enhancing international relations, creating young leaders & cultivating peace.
expliquez le caractère innovant de votre initiative (1 ou 2 phrases brèves). [136 caractères/25 mots]
It connects Afghan IDPs & rural U.S. kids & sends teens abroad to assist displaced communities, bridging gaps & fostering social justice
Impact social
This Entry is about (Issues)
Jusqu'à ce jour, quels résultats a obtenu votre projet ?
People within the UN and in the U.S. have responded favourably to this project idea. The goal of the project is to start off small but, ultimately, make this program available to students throughout the U.S. and various IDP Camps, connecting children of all ages in order to create greater cross-cultural understanding and to cultivate peace.
Quelles sont vos prévisions en termes d'impact au cours des trois prochaines années?
Children are the future. EMPATHY will begin re-shaping cultural mindsets, starting with children. By providing children with firsthand exposure to different cultures and people and providing them with the space to develop their own perspectives, they will begin to redefine how we – as cultures – view one another. Within the next 3 years, there will be a clear improvement in the knowledge children have on international relations, geography, and history, and children will demonstrate an interest in traveling and exploring the world.
Les meilleures propositions possèdent un programme solide détaillant leurs prévisions pour atteindre et suivre leurs objectifs de croissance. Identifiez vos objectifs à 6 mois pour accroître vos résultats
Support for project is solicited from U.S. School, UN, Afghan Government, & Displaced Camp in Afghanistan. Project is initiated.
Définissez les trois tâches principales à accomplir pour atteindre ces objectifs à six mois
Tâche 1
Motivate & unite: Meet teachers/administrators (U.S.) & camp leaders/teachers/students (A): identify challenges/opportunities.
Tâche 2
Secure sufficient start-up funds for equipment & educators in U.S. & Afghanistan. (Write proposals, Kickstarter, UN, ICRC, etc.)
Tâche 3
I will travel to each location to introduce both groups to each other online & to launch project.
Et maintenant, voyez les choses en plus grand ! Identifiez vos objectifs à 12 mois
Program is actively running with funding/voluntary efforts – classes, video conferencing, buddy program, fundraisers for IDPs.
Définissez les trois tâches principales à accomplir pour atteindre vos objectifs à 12 mois
Tâche 1
Hire college professors/former humanitarian/development staff to teach after-school classes 3x/week.
Tâche 2
Test children pre- and post-course for statistical measurement of course effectiveness.
Tâche 3
Set up “buddy” program connecting kids locally (resettled refugees with kids who help them with language & adaptation.
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
I first envisioned this project following 9/11. The fear that arose, leaving many afraid to experience other countries & cultures, made me realize the importance of access to accurate information & cross-cultural understanding.
I resolved to implement this project when violently assaulted during a civil war. Suffering from PTSD, a side effect plaguing many involved in war, I gained insight into the effect of violence on the human psyche & the emotional scars it leaves. As I experienced, war triggers trauma & trauma triggers anger, hostility & violence, a vicious cycle.
I realized that we have the technological means to unite people from remote corners of the world but choose to remain largely isolated. It is up to us to use these means.
Viabilité
Quels sont vos différents partenariats ?
US: S-VE (administrators, teachers, students) is the first school to partake in project, offering constant feedback whilst planning, implementing & monitoring it.
Afghanistan: Support from governmental actors (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Refugees & Repatriations) & Displaced Camp [camp leaders, teachers], clear understanding of their views & transparency with them are essential.
International Community: UN agencies (UNHCR, Unicef) & NGOs (e.g. education sector) will provide insight from their experience, help refining curriculum, & funding ideas/opportunities.
Avec quelle équipe (employés, bénévoles, etc.) pensez-vous atteindre vos objectifs de croissance définis dans la section sur l'impact social? [75 mots]
From both countries: Teachers/Educators/School Administrators, former humanitarian/development staff (UN, Peace Corps, NGOs), former military, volunteers exhibiting a deep commitment to EMPATHY’s objectives and, of course, the students themselves will play a central role in developing a solid project, constantly evaluating its effectiveness & making relevant improvements.
Expliquez plus en détails les besoins et les offres indiqués ci-dessus ou proposez un type d'aide non mentionné dans la liste
Given the attention drawn to the “1%” & beliefs that they do not understand the realities faced by the world’s “99%”, it’s important to include the 1% (corporations & wealthy individuals, including celebrities & non-celebrities, as funders, idea-generators & volunteers in the above categories, & wealthy students as participants).
 | il y a 58 semaines Shannon Mouillesseaux updated this Competition Entry. |
| il y a 58 semaines Shannon Mouillesseaux submitted this idea. |