friends from around the world at the GYV carnival

According to TIME magazine, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and other civil rights groups, there has been a dramatic rise in the increase of  hate groups and militias  in the past two years.  Last month, the department store chain Lowe’s was came under fire for pulling ads from the popular TLC show “All-American Muslim”.   The controversial immigration laws recently passed in Arizona and Alabama have created heated debates on issues of racial profiling. It seems as though everywhere we look, we can see flags of racism, intolerance and misunderstanding. But, pockets of tolerance and understanding do exist and one such place is our international summer camp in Virginia.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Global Youth Village stands out as a place where racism and intolerance are openly discussed. These difficult and complex topics  often come up during our peace building and dialogue workshops where young people are encouraged to confront their own stereotypes or racist attitudes; they are then equipped with the tools to constructively address their issues.

After being forced by the Serbs to flee his home in Kosovo in 1999,  alum Kreshe Kacaniku P’03  says, “I had a lot of prejudice towards certain people groups before I came to GYV, but  I changed.  At GYV, I  learned not to hate, not to be prejudiced. ” During the past 33 years, Global Youth Village has trained young people from conflict-ridden countries like Cambodia, Israel/Palestine, Iraq, and Ireland and provided them with tools to become more conscious, tolerant and compassionate peace builders.

Most recently in our 2011 program, the stereotypes that lead to ignorance, intolerance and racism were shattered once again. Participant Jacob Trump P’11 said, “In American culture, when we look at Iraqis or anyone from the Muslim religion or faith, we generally think about a head covering, a suicide bombing or war. I think I had that stereotype. I really did, but it has genuinely been torn down for me at Global Youth Village.”

Against the backdrop of an increasingly intolerant world, Global Youth Village continues to be place that creates common ground among people of different backgrounds. The program demonstrates that universal  human values such  as peace, justice, tolerance and understanding can be a reality. Our 2012 programs hope to continue this legacy.

 I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
— Martin Luther King, Jr

Young man from Baghdad:

” For the past two years, we haven’t been seeing American soldiers  in the streets.  The average Iraqi citizen in the street will not notice that the soldiers have left.  Security is generally in the hands of the Iraqi forces these days so I don’t think that there will be a lot of changes in security. Compared to three years ago, things in general are better. The recent bomb blasts are creepy.  Every time a bomb goes off we race to the phone to call our family members and make sure that everyone is OK.”

Young woman from Basra:

“I don’t have strong feelings about the troops leaving or staying.  The future of Iraq doesn’t depend on their presence or departure.  Iraq’s issues stem from our messed up government.”

A man from Anbar:

“I’m partially happy that the troops are leaving  because we are going to have our freedom back and our army will have a chance to take responsibility.  However, our army may not yet be to handle security.  I am afraid that the country will be divided or it will be controlled by Iran. The P.M. of Iraq is merely a toy in the hands of the Iranian government. The security situation is deteriorating.  Last week we had some kidnappings and assassinations along with explosions and bombings.  Around  250 people have been killed. My cousin decide to leave his school in Baghdad because three of his friends were kidnapped on Thursday because they are Sunni. Nobody knows where they are.   A professor from Baghdad university/ college of law was murdered last week too so it looks like we’re headed into a civil war.  This time, we will have no US troops to protect the civilians and to take  weapons away from the militias.“

Young woman from Hilla:

“I have mixed feelings about the situation in Iraq.  I’m happy for the American troops because they will go back to their families; they have suffered a lot. I’m sad because I don’t think that my  country can protect itself and our future is probably better with the American troops here. The security situation will become worse because our soldiers don’t honor their profession and if they receive bribes they will not pay attention to the country’s security.  In general, the  Americans soldiers carry out their duties loyally and faithfully compared to the Iraqi ones.”

Young man from Baghdad:

“I  feel very bad because the American soldiers were protecting us and their departure was premature.  We don’t have a strong army yet.  Iraq’s future would have been  brighter and better with American troops because of our army is not ready to protect  us and defeat the terrorists from other countries. I plead with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to work harder and process our papers. We are waiting for our U.S. visas and are receiving threats.”

Young man from Kurdistan (Northern Iraq):

“Currently our country is on the brink of a civil war – the Vice President has fled to the North (to Kurdistan where I am living) because he’s been accused of leading terrorist operations. A wave of bombings was targeted at Baghdad, the capital, along with the other southern cities right after the U.S troops left. Iran is also making things worse by interfering in our politics. The Iranian government, which is composed of the Shiites, supports Nuri Maliki who is now seen by the Sunnis as a dictator.  To sum it all up up: things do not look good. I am just hoping that things get better – especially in the South, where so many are dying due to lack of security.”

Young Iraqis and Americans build strong ties of friendship

Here are some shocking facts about hunger in America:

-In 2010, 48.8 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 32.6 million adults and 16.2 million children.

-In 2010, 4.8 percent of all U.S. households (5.6 million households) accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times.

Test your knowledge to see how much you know about hunger in America by taking the following quiz.

(Source: www.feedingamerica.org)

Discussions have an important place at the Global Youth Village international summer program. Participants are encouraged to speak freely about their thoughts, learning more about  about each other’s beliefs and cultures. In 2011, youth engaged in  the exercise “I Believe”.  Below is an engaging compilation of their thoughts by workshop instructor Elliot Leffler.

You believe in diversity, in humanity, in life.

You believe in forgiveness, equality, and freedom.

Many of you believe in God.

You believe that when we look at the sky and the ground and the morning and the night you can know that there is a great power to make all of this.

Some of you believe that we are all equal in God’s eyes, that all religions lead to peace.

Some of you believe that God created us to worship him.

Some believe that life is an exam.  You believe that humans are tested by God on a daily basis, and that we will never go through some difficulty which we will not be able to handle.

Some of you believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Some believe in the Virgin Mary and her miracles.  Others specified that God works alone, without partners.

Some of you believe in the prophet Mohammad, and in the Holy Quran.

Some believe in Love.

Some believe that the world is a wet mud in which you can create whatever you want –

But some of you believe that it takes more than one person to make a difference.

Some of you believe in holding fast to community and to tradition.

But you believe that you don’t have to go to church every Sunday to have God with you.

Some of you believe that there is no God.

You believe (some of you) that the Old Testament is not always true, that it’s different from the New Testament.  The old stories, you believe, are just symbols.

You believe that every religion has their own rules and beliefs, and that all religions have equality before God, but that you have chosen the right choice.

You believe that the words found in Quran are God’s words, and they are the only valid laws for the human race.

You believe that it is everyone’s job to save the planet.

You believe that in every thing and every moment there is a truth to be learned.

Many of you believe that all religions see the same God from different perspectives.

Some of you believe that a person is born good.

Others believe that human beings are bad, that when we are born in this world we are destined for hell.

Others believe that every man has the power to be good or bad.  Some believe in two types of human beings: good and bad.

One of you believes that everyone ends up going to heaven.

You believe in miracles – some of you.

You believe everything is connected.

You believe in equality between men and women, and between races.

Some of you believe that Jesus died on the cross, to save you from your sins, in order for you to go to heaven.

Some believe in praying five times a day, in fasting for Ramadan, in expressing your faith in your God and his prophet, in making pilgrimage, and in giving money for poor people.

Some believe that our purpose on earth is to leave a positive impact on the lives of others.

You believe in the pursuit of happiness.

You believe that your country will be better one day.

You believe that someday all war will end.

You believe that some day all people will live together.

You believe nothing is impossible.

You believe in dreams.

You believe that you have to believe.

Indonesian youth share their ideas

Here are some of their thoughts on “What does it take to be a Global Citizen?” :

1.  Realizing that if we are creative we can find better ways to share natural resources

2.  Really listening to others and even if you don’t agree with their point of view realize you gain something from giving people the space to share perspectives

3.  Remembering that change is constant  and at the same time  traditions and our heritage are  important elements to maintain

4.   Experiencing others through  travel and if you can’t travel, then communicate with people via the web

5.  Recognizing that a  global citizen has to take responsibility not only for him or herself but for others.

6.  Cultivating confidence, serenity and contentment.

7. Having an expansive mind and understanding that there are universal  values that underlie all cultures.

During different Morning Workshops each summer, youth from around the world actively engage in discussing compelling questions.  Through practicing deep listening skills, critical thinking  and using  techniques for effective dialogue, you  return  to your own community with new abilities to promote change – that is part of the GYV philosophy and goals.

At first, one would think Iraqi and US teens would have little in common since their life experiences are so different. However  during GYV’s  Peace-building Program, there has been incredible connection, integration, and appreciation between the youth from the U.S. and from Iraq. Friendships have become so strong and people have bonded over open discussions of cultural differences.

A moment that brought us all together came from a speech GYV founder, J.E. Rash, gave the first day the youth arrived. He pointed out that there are certain universal human values that transcend cultures and continents. The young people from both countries added compassion, honesty, integrity, respect, courage, family, community, strength, open-mindedness, humility, and the ability to listen to a list of universal values.  Recognizing that we all aspire to and agree upon the same ideals created a foundation for open communication and respect that was perfect for living in cabins together, participating in our peace-building workshops, and engaging in all of the other fun activities around the Global Youth Village.

One 16-year-old Iraqi participant described her experience at GYV this way:

The Americans were so nice. I learned a lot of stuff here – to be responsible for myself, to care for myself and my friends in hard times, and it was a great experience for me to meet the Americans and talk with them. My thought about Americans changed when I came here and met them. The way I talked to them, we talked about a lot of stuff we have in common, and the workshops were great and fun. Yesterday we were all dancing.

Despite diverse cultural practices, variations in religion, and differences between our governments, recognizing the universal human values we all share transcends these separations and provides hope for a peaceful world community.

Every summer in Virginia, at Legacy International’s 80 acre campus with beautiful trees, streams, and cabins, you find young people making friends and finding common ground.

A young man from Baghdad talks about some of the challanges he feels face his country  while Liam from Massachusetts listens.  Jason, a staff member and former college football player, teaches a group of US and internationals American football.  The Green Your World workshop plants a fast growing vegetable in the garden and learns how this plant is grown in the mountains in Indonesia. Amanda the counselor maintains her crown as Queen of Ping Pong despite some heavy competition.  Experience it all at GYV.  Legacy International has been showing youth they can be global citizens for the past 32 years.  Check out the Program Choices.

Khaled Hassouna

For the first time, people with differing opinions came together, had a dialogue, took it to the streets and created change.  This movement started with bright young professionals from all walks of life. It included people from Al Azhar with the Coptic churches, young and old, rich and poor, men and women.  This is unprecedented.  The last time we saw something like this was in 1919.

The Egyptian people were asking for really important things. They were not asking for things like a pay raise, or healthcare reform. They were asking for something that was really beyond that…(freedom, dignity, and social equity) and it took a while for the government to understand this.

In Tahrir Square, a company donated plastic that could be used to make make-shift tents.  Cable/rope companies were also donating wire for supporting the tents against strong winds. Small towns were created within the Square. What makes this movement so unique is how the army basically facilitated this uprising…how they protected the demonstrators.

I personally did not take part in the demonstrations. I did not go to the Square, but I was helping with the creation of the civil defense groups that were mobilizing civilians to protect their homes and their personal property.

The level of organization was incredible. The civil defense efforts…the ways in which people were protecting their neighbors, their neighborhoods and their property was better than anyone in the world expected.  There was not a single reported incident of harassment, burglary, or violence among 2 million people crammed in a square for 18 days.

Last night, there were 3 million people in Tahrir Square. This afternoon, there were 5 million people and today it’s in the tens of millions. There were girls in jeans and tee shirt side by side linking hands with women in niqab.  It was amazing to see millions of people praying together during Friday prayers today while Christians were protecting their backs.  It was inspiring to see the Egyptian copts performing their mass in the square protected by the Muslims of all affiliations.  I don’t think you even had that many people praying together in one place even in Mecca. The army was protecting them.

It was worth dodging all the bullets for this kind of outcome. The long nights of uncertainty were worth it.  The reform that the government was offering was simply too slow for the people. Their words and their terminology were totally of sync with the people.

I really admired a soldier in the army who did not pull the trigger on his machine gun when protestors were running towards him. The soldiers had no idea what the protesters were going to do, only to find the protesters hugging and kissing him.  This situation has broken many of the stereotypes you hear about the relationship between armies and civilians.

Yesterday the confusion was terrible.  Today, people are celebrating, but we are not sure what this means.  What is clear is the critical role that Egypt plays in the Middle East.  Egypt is the core, the heartbeat of the Middle East.  Today, for the fist time in Saudi Arabia, the royal family gave permission for a political party to operate.  Governments in the region continue to fall in Yemen, in Jordan, etc.  Constitutional reform in many Middle Eastern countries is now underway and this could not have happened without the efforts of the Egyptian people.  This shows you what civil society in Egypt is capable of.   Unfortunately, thousands of people were wounded and over 300 lost their lives.   Many of the analysts in the world had written these brave young people off, but today they proved the world wrong.

I am proud to be an Egyptian citizen of the world.  This peaceful revolution took place in my country changing the world for all.  I am proud to live this moment with all its emotions and feelings.  Today (thank God) I am proud.

Legacy International staff members are inevitably on the forefront of creating positive change!

GYV Alumni, Syahrial Saputral is from from South Sumatra (Sumatra Island), Indonesia and was part of Legacy International’s  Indonesian Youth Leadership Program.  He attended the Global Youth Village’s  cultural immersion program in 2009.

Syahrial's classmates

Syahrial from Indonesia shares the following with you.

I live far away from my family at my boarding school. It’s about ten hours driving by car. I live in a flat now.  I am in my last year of high school.

My usual day goes like this:

• 4.30 : wake up and pray
• 5.00 : prepare everything including my breakfast
• 6.00 : go to school
• 6.25 : bell ringing
• 6.30 : morning ceremony and pray
• 7.00 : classes begin
• 10-10.30 : break time
• 10:30-1:15pm : classes
• 1.15-2 pm : break for lunch and pray
• 2 pm – 4.30 pm :classes
• 4.30 pm :afternoon ceremony
• 5 pm :  time to go back home.

My school is one of best school in my province, so the system is little bit different than other schools which end at 1pm. In my first year of high school, I took all the subjects offered by school.

This is required:

• English
• Indonesian
• Japanese
• math
• biology
• chemistry
• geography
• economic
• sociology
• ICT (information communication and technology)
• sports
• religion
• art
• physics

In my last year there is no art, economics, geography, or sociology.  I  take a couple of science subjects and other compulsary subjects (English, math, Indonesian).

Interested in participating in this year’s cultural immersion program? Our Crossing Cultures Program will include Indonesian youths and well as internationals from around the world.

30 Ways to Build Community

Youth were surveyed and  came up with 30 ways to build community  at  GYV and in their home communities.  Everyday at GYV,  we strive to build a model of the global community.  We remain open to new ideas, assist one another and are flexible when dealing with people from different backgrounds.  Let us know what you think and how you build community around you.

1. Have mutual respect for everyone
2. Strike up a conversation with a stranger
3. Carry the “Pay It Forward” attitude
4. Offer to help others
5. Get to know your neighbor
6. Greet others with a smile and kind words
7. Establish common goals and values
8. Create art together
9. Laugh
10. Be the one to reach out with a helping hand
11. Support your local theater, school, and non-profits
12. Share
13. Listen with genuine curiosity
14. Introduce yourself to someone new
15. Volunteer
16. Give compliments freely
17. Share your dinner table with others
18. Hugs
19. Connect through music
20. Give gifts for no reason
21. Smile
22. Respect the world around you
23. Use friendly dialogue
24. Open your mind to new things
25. Love
26. Be patient
27. Celebrate diversity
28. Remember the youth need guidance and positive influences
29. Coexist
30. Make the most you can out of life, now