Leaders in education, international development, and global citizenship will come from around the globe to partake in the Global Solutions Forum in Vail Oct. 26-29. The event, hosted by Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder, addresses the educational vision that views global citizenship as an essential aim of schools around the world.
The event also serves as a meeting of minds for the collective work and partnerships of Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder, an organization that partners with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and non-profits around the world to prepare youth for citizenship in a globally-connected world.
“Providing authentic opportunities for youth to engage in global issues today inspires this next generation of global leaders as global citizens,” said Bob Bandoni, Executive Director of Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder. “We see effective, long-term global leadership synonymous with global citizenship. The GSF is a platform for collaboration, and an educational model for ethical leadership in a globalized world.”
Among the guest speakers will be Ana Dodson, founder of Peruvian Hearts. Dodson, who was born in Peru, was adopted by an American family as a baby. At 11 years old, she returned to visit the region of her birth. After visiting an orphanage in the village of Anta, the Hogar de Ninas, Ana was inspired to found Peruvian Hearts in order to help improve the lives and opportunities of orphaned girls in Peru.
Other luminaries in the NGO world will also be present, as will students and young people who have participated in the program. The event is an opportunity for sharing stories, wisdom, and ideas as the group works to improve the lives of millions around the world who live in poverty.
“By partnering with grassroots NGOs, schools, and donors, we can do the work of creating lifelong connections among people of widely varied backgrounds,” Bandoni said. “Together, these networks of individuals can learn from one another, and unify, to shape the world that they live in. That’s what the Global Solutions Forum is all about.”
About 20 youth from around the country, who have experienced the domestic or international programs of SStS, will join together with leaders like Tamdin Wangdu, Executive Director of Tibetan Village Project, Joselo Balderrama Hurtado, Director of the Rio Beni Health Foundation; Hal Aronson, Co-founder and Director of Technology and Education for WE CARE Solar; Christopher P. Brady, Co-founder of the Rio Beni Health Project; Michele Hovey, Educator and Board Member of SStS and International Peace Initiatives; Jo MacLaughlin, Collective Shout Officer, Love146; and Fredah Kamene Rajab, Board Member of SStS and Liaison with International Peace Initiatives.
Portions of the Forum are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.
Schedule
Two interactive seminars will be open to the public during the Forum:
(1) Voices of Change
Sunday, Oct. 27 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
(2) Forces of Change
Monday, Oct. 28 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
For more information on attending, or to learn more about the Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder and the Global Solutions Forum, please visit www.shouldertoshoulder.com.