Want to Change the World?

A Call for Nominations for 2008-09 CIE Fellows

What makes you different? Do you have something to say about the future of the planet? What would you improve in your community, your world? CIE invites rising sophomores and juniors who have a strong desire to create change in their communities to be a part of its 2008-09 Fellows program.

This program is selective, accepting only thirty fellows from across the greater DC region for 2008-09. Fellows will focus on Wind, Water, and Waste issues and will learn how to change the future of the planet.

Fellows will have the opportunity to:

• Learn from people and organizations that are tackling these challenges
• Connect with other students from public, private, and charter schools who also want to change their neighborhoods and our world
• Become a social entrepreneur and leader and do something about these issues

Who becomes a Fellow? Students who:

• Are civic-minded and looking for ways to change the world
• Are open-minded, engaged, and excited about meeting students from all over the area
• Believe they can change both their future and the future of the planet
• Want to raise global awareness and cause their school community to take action
• Are rising 10th and 11th graders with solid academic standing and can fully commit to this program

Think you can accept this challenge? Or does this sound like someone you know? Each school is responsible for choosing its candidate(s)—see your school's CIE representative for more information.

Applications due: May 19, 2008

Announcing: Japan '08 a new summer learning experience

In June 2008, students and teachers will travel to Japan for two weeks to investigate business. The focus of the program will be on business in Japan and will involve a comparative study in global business, education, and cultural practices in Japan relative to the world economy. This program is open to Washington International School students only for this pilot year. It is an opportunity connect their course of study to real world practices in Japan in the context of its interrelationships with the global economy.

Announcing: LearnServe 2008

LearnServe is a summer program that brings students and teachers to developing countries to explore important global issues.

"This trip showed me how much a simple human presence can make a difference and how much responsibility we have as global citizens to use our advantages for the betterment of others."

—Isabel, LSP 2007

Why would you and your school...

• Choose to be part of a LearnServe team,
• Travel to China, Paraguay, or Zambia this summer, and
• Return home and share what you have done with others?

Because you can. This isn't just a trip—this is a life-changing experience.

Find out why others did and how you can too. For more information:

• Read last year's team blogs from China, Paraguay, and Zambia
• Learn more about the LearnServe program
• Contact us to ask a question or to get involved
• Registration ends January 15, but places are limited, so reserve a place for your school now! (scholarships available)

2008 IFE Fellows Selected!

Thirty-two students from DC metro region have been selected for CIE's IFE Fellows program. These future global leaders will learn the skills of social entrepreneurship, learn from people who are making a difference in the world today, and design their own "sustainable ventures". They kicked off their training with an overnight team-building retreat (photos).

Special thanks to the Institute for Education for sponsoring this program.

Program Announcements for 2007-08

A Call to Action on November 7

You asked and we listened—our Call to Action symposium has moved to the fall. Mark your calendar for November 7th!

The 4th Call to Action symposium will challenge schools and school districts to work together to address some of our area's—and the world's—critical environmental issues in the face of global warming. Hosted at the World Bank, student and teacher teams will learn from inspiring speakers, connect with organizations making sustainable change, and begin to work together to make a difference in our world. To hold a place for your school or to learn more, send an email to symposium@cie-wis.org.

Fellows Program

Do you know or are you a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated potential in becoming a leader in our world one day? CIE's Institute for Education Fellows are civic-minded students who are selected to participate in an eight-month, global leadership training program. Teachers and administrators are invited to submit student nominations in September; the Fellows program will begin in October.

Learn more about the Fellows or contact us to find out how to become a nominee or to submit a nomination.

LearnServe Programs

In the summer of 2008, new LearnServe teams will continue work begun by previous teams. If you want to be a part of this two-week, in-country experience, email learnserve@cie-wis.org for more information. Scholarships are available.

This past summer three groups of DC area high school students and teachers traveled on LearnServe programs to Zambia, Paraguay, and China. Each group took part in development projects designed to bring about sustainable change in health and literacy, poverty, and the environment, respectively. The three groups blogged their experiences live from the field with first-hand stories and photos, which can be seen on their blogs from Zambia, Paraguay, and China.

Announcing LearnServe Zambia '07 (formerly LearnServe Ethiopia '07)

© 2006 Federico Dollfus

The safety of LearnServe trip participants has always been CIE's first consideration. While we do not expect the current conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia to escalate, this year's LearnServe trip to Ethiopia will instead travel to Zambia. We are excited by the opportunity Zambia presents, and our partner humanitarian organization, Share Our Strength supports our decision and will continue to work with us as we plan our work in Zambia. We look forward to sending trips to Ethiopia in future years.

Zambia is a remarkable country. Among the poorest world nations, over 70% of Zambians live in poverty. A per capita annual income of $395 places the country among the world's poorest nations. A landlocked country in southern Africa, it shares one of the wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe.

CIE has selected Zambia because of its welcoming people, its stability, and because the problems it faces are issues that confront all world citizens. One in five children in Zambia are orphaned, largely due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We are fortunate to join with the Lubuto Library Project, which assists orphans and street children in Zambia. LearnServe participants will work on this important literacy and education project bringing hope to some of the most disenfranchised in all of Africa.

We will continue to update our site as other themes and details emerge. The first LearnServe meeting for schools traveling to Africa and Zambia this summer will be at WIS (3100 Macomb) on Sunday, February 11 from 3-6 PM.

Announcing our 2006-07 Programs

Trevor in Ethiopia, 2006

Learning about hunger and poverty is an important first step in addressing these problems. The conditions in which many people in the world live are unacceptable. But what can you, one person, do about it?

This question frames the goals of each of our programs during the 2006-07 school year. If you want to lead your school toward greater international understanding and action, we want you to be part of CIE!

CIE's three programs for 2006-07 are:

• LearnServe trips to Ethiopia, Paraguay, and China
• Call to Action Symposium
• IFE Student Fellows

New: LearnServe China 2007!

Building on the success of the LearnServe program, CIE will send a group to China in July of 2007 for 14 to 18 days, thanks in part to a generous grant from PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.

The focus of LSC 2007 will be on the rapid development of China and its environmental implications. If you are interested in sending a school team or learning more about our plans, please contact us!

In addition to China, CIE will again send groups to Paraguay and Ethiopia in the summer of 2007. For more information, we recommend reading about last year's trips.

Symposium 2007: Awareness to Action!

"Do the thing that is in front of you"          -Mother Teresa

CIE's Call to Action Symposium
February 23, 2007
at the World Bank

What's exciting about this year?

• Key speaker: Tony Hall, author of Changing the Face of Hunger, former US Congressman from Ohio, and US Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture
• 13 Organizations focusing on systemic and sustainable approaches to eradicating poverty
• Youth Venture and IFE Fellows identifying and creating solutions for change

Please contact us if you would like to receive advance information about this program. This symposium is possible due to the generous support of the Longview Foundation.

2007 IFE Fellows Selected!

Twenty-six students from DC metro region have been selected for CIE's IFE Fellows program. These future global leaders will learn the skills of social entrepreneurship, learn from people who are making a difference in the world today, and design a sustainable "venture". Meet these exceptional young people at our February 23rd Symposium.

CIE is pleased to announce our partnership with Youth Venture, part of Ashoka. CIE is grateful to the Institute for Education for sponsoring this program.