GLA Blog » Thoughts on International Education

Posts Tagged ‘activism’

MLK Day: Reflections on Community Service

“Make a career of humanity – and you will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This quote by Dr. King sums up Global Leadership Adventures’ mission. Beyond taking high school students on community service programs around the world, we simply want all students around the world to consider their role in the world and their responsibility to fellow human beings, regardless of nationality or culture.

Although 2009 was a difficult year due to the economic crisis, the events in Haiti have caused many people to reflect on how fortunate and blessed they are regardless of the tough economic times. Haiti has caused people to rally around a cause and donate even during tough times.

This reminds me of another quote, by Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor by giving.

This Monday, on MLK Day of Service, we urge all students to consider their role in the world and their commitment to community service – not just on MLK Day – but throughout the year. Whether service is international or domestic or in your local neighborhood, there’s no better way to honor Dr. King’s legacy than joining hands in service to others.

Answer “life’s most persistent and urgent question,” as Dr. King called it, “What are you doing for others?” Make this Martin Luther King Day of Service a day on, not a day off.

Being Global, Locally

Continuing on the thread of being a global citizen during the year (and not just on an international summer program)…  there are a few great organizations that offer high school students a structured program to make a difference on key global issues.  In most cases, the organization supports student clubs with materials, training, trips and resources to help raise awareness and funds to support international causes.

New Global Citizens has been a partner of Global Leadership Adventures for a few years.  They are a great organization that helps students set up clubs in their school and even sends a representative to your school to help train the team.  Each club picks an international NGO that they’ll support over the course of the year.

Global Citizen Corps is a project of Mercy Corps.  They also have resources for high school clubs.  But what’s really cool is their year-long Leadership program that includes a Leadership Summit with a select group of teens to New York and sets up meetings at the UN, with NGOs and teleconferences with other global leaders.  This articles tells more.

Amnesty International is probably the best known human rights organization.  There are thousands of Amnesty groups on college and high school campuses that engage in letter writing campaigns and petitions to governments to release political prisoners or improve human rights around the world.  Register your school group online and you will receive a toolkit to get started.  Or, if you’re a 1-person movement, use their great online activist toolkit and get started today.