Global Voices Initiative “The best way to bridge our differences is people to people. That’s the beauty of Global Voices: using the arts to connect young people throughout the world--not in a political way or through policy decision, but through simple human contact.” - Bob Keith, US State Dept. Introduction Global Voices (GV) allows young people from around the world to directly connect and learn about each other, and this can be done cheaply on a large scale. Economics is not a barrier for participation: GV is working with rich and poor schools both here and abroad. Global Voices helps build community. Global Voices gives participants a shared purpose that becomes a vehicle for a dialogue with peers around the world that can last a lifetime. How Global Voices Works Theater and Music FACTS 10 Countries 5 Continents 5 Languages 2750 students in 2011 12,000 student participants since 2004 29 participating schools 40 participating teachers Sponsors & Supporters The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation U.S. Department of Education: Office of Innovation and Improvement Francis W. Parker School University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc. Casablanca Committee of Chicago Sister Cities Intl. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D - IL)
Chicago Area Schools Schurz High School -- Casablanca, Morocco; Lindblom High School --Amman, Jordan Kelly High School -- Birmingham, England; Northside Prep --Beijing Francis Parker --Casablanca, Morocco Univ. of Chicago Lab School --Martinique; Westinghouse College Prep to Bogota, Columbia Murphy Elementary School-- Mexico; Passages Elementary -- Casablanca, Morocco Rutledge Hall -- Beirut, Lebanon; Evanston High School Casablanca, Morocco Sullivan High School -- Casablanca, Morocco. Boston Area Schools Buckingham, Browne & Nichols -- Casablanca, Morocco Buckingham, Browne & Nichols -- Cairo, Egypt Personnel Board of Directors
“Today young people are coming of age in a global community where geographic boundaries have been made insignificant by technology. Learning to speak with our neighbors in their own language is an indispensable tool for understanding and collaboration across borders and cultures. Global Voices does that.” |
Above: A slide show that illustrates how Global Voices works. Above: A brief video showing students in Casablanca and Chicago working together. |