STUDENTS SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
2015
SHOULDER-TO
Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder celebrates its ninth year with experiential learning opportunities in ten sites. As a non-profit school, teaching summer courses on four continents, we are committed to our educational mission in every experience we offer: to inspire high school students to engage in global citizenship through education, collaboration, and post-travel advocacy. Our instructors lead small groups of students through compelling online activities centered on our Five Lenses Curriculum before taking them into the field for hands-on education from our partner non-profits. These remarkable organizations make a tangible and sustainable impact on our world and on our students. After returning home, students have the opportunity to advocate for these organizations through public presentations. We encourage you to learn more about our offerings, philosophy, and method on our website at www.shouldertoshoulder.com.
O-SHOULDER
EDUCATE
“Our time in the community was by far the most challenging, but I think you learn some of the greatest things when faced with challenges.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
BOLIVIA The SStS Bolivia course begins in the highest capital on earth, La Paz, where students will get a taste of the ancient Aymara culture created amidst 21,000-foot peaks. The time there is short, as the bulk of the service work will be in the most biologically diverse spot on the planet, the Bolivian Amazon. In this region, the rivers are the highways, and the indigenous communities lay scattered along its banks. The communities of the Rio Beni live a remote existence, with subsistence living conditions and minimal access to clean water. These local people (primarily Chimane, Mosetene, Tacana and Quechua Indians) historically have had little access to primary health care services. Our partner non-profit, the Rio Beni Health Foundation, provides these essential medical services to the people of the Rio Beni. The SStS project primarily focuses on supporting mobile clinics, participating in local trainings, and building filters for a clean water initiative. After building filters for schools and homes that have no access to clean water, SStS students will travel up-river to live with the communities they have come to support. The filters they will install literally save lives, minimizing the disturbingly high infant mortality rate in these communities. While there, SStS students will hear stories of life in the Amazon around campfires and enjoy soccer with the local kids. They will also experience a jungle that provides life to more species than any other place on earth and explore why it is rapidly disappearing. After seeing firsthand the struggles that the Amazonian people face and the enjoyment that they derive from their simple lives, the course will culminate in a trip to Isla del Sol, an island in Lake Titicaca. While on this island, which is central in the Incan myth of creation, students will have the opportunity to reflect upon their course in global citizenship in the midst of a strikingly beautiful Andean setting.
COURSE DATES:
June 21 to July 6
ADVOCATE
“Our time on the island was refreshingly simple and peaceful; however, it could be uncomfortable at times. For me, being put out of my comfort zone allowed me to learn and grow as a ‘global citizen.’ I think that is what makes these SStS courses so unique and important.”
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
CAMBODIA The SStS Cambodia course begins in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, the group will spend two days learning about the rich history of the Cambodian people, including the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. The service work will then begin with the Westline Education Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating impoverished urban children. After this experience, students will get their first exposure to the rural lifestyle of many Cambodians as they travel by minibus to the town of Kratie in order to connect with our primary non-profit partner, the Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT). After spending a day exploring Kratie and learning more about the work and mission of CRDT, the group will travel to the island village of Koh Preah, where they will live with villagers in traditional homes for over a week. While in Koh Preah, the group will experience firsthand how CRDT supports local projects aimed at improving the living standards of poor rural communities with a particular focus on sustainable environmental practices. SStS students will spend a majority of their time in Koh Preah engaged in a project centered on constructing elements of a community eco-tourism center. Additionally, they will be immersed in the daily routines of this rural village. Evenings will be spent listening to stories told by village elders and participating in cultural presentations and ceremonies. In order to get a feel for the adjacent countryside, the group will travel by boat to swim in the storied Mekong River and, ideally, catch a glimpse of endangered fresh water dolphins. Upon completion of the project, the group will take the scenic route down the Mekong to Kratie. From there, they will travel to Siem Reap in order to spend a few days reflecting on what they have learned about global citizenship and touring Angkor Wat, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is the largest Hindu temple in the world.
COURSE DATES:
June 16 to July 5
SERVE
“The most important thing I learned was that in order for a non-profit to work, the community has to be involved.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
DETROIT, MICHIGAN The SStS Detroit course occurs in the Motor City, which was once the capital of industrial America with a population of nearly two million. The booming auto industry led Detroit to become the fourth largest city in the U.S., and the birth of Motown music added to the city’s fame. However, in recent decades, changes in the global economy have led to the departure of most of the major manufacturers. As a result, the population has fallen by over 60%. A third of homes stand vacant, and 80,000 more may need to be demolished. Under these circumstances, unemployment has risen dramatically in the wake of factory closures. Currently, one in three households live in poverty. In the midst of these difficult conditions, SStS’s non-profit partner, Focus: HOPE, is leading numerous local efforts to revitalize the city’s most effected neighborhoods. Founded in 1968, Focus HOPE is an organization dedicated to intelligent and practical solutions to the problems of hunger, economic disparity, inadequate education, and racial divisiveness. While in Detroit, the SStS group will primarily work in support of Focus: HOPE’s “Keep It 100” project. The aim of this initiative is to create 100 blocks in the heart of the city that are economically, educationally, and environmentally sound by 2030. In mid-July, Focus: HOPE will be mobilizing 5000 volunteers to work towards their vision of building a “Hope Village” in this area where 100% of the population will eventually have the ability to thrive. The SStS group will play a critical role in preparing for this huge volunteer effort. Additionally, they will spend time actively supporting Focus: HOPE’s other projects such as providing food for low-income mothers, young children, and senior citizens. Finally, this course in global citizenship will also include an exploration of cultural sites and restored neighborhoods that will allow student to appreciate the rich history of the city and its significant potential for future revival.
COURSE DATES:
July 6 to July 13
COLLABORATE
“I was able to create unforgettable bonds with wonderful children and make a difference at the same time.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
KENYA The SStS Kenya course is centered primarily in a village outside Meru, a rapidly expanding town in the foothills of 17,000-foot Mount Kenya. After spending two days being introduced to Kenya by visiting an elephant orphanage, a giraffe preserve, and a school in Kibera, the group will travel to Meru to begin their work with our non-profit partner, International Peace Initiatives (IPI). The project work primarily focuses on supporting IPI’s efforts to build and sustain several Amani Community Homes. These homes allow economic and AIDS orphans to remain close to their extended families while also providing them with a safe and healthy home environment. In addition to attending local schools, the children living in the Amani Homes support themselves by working on adjacent organic farms and tending to goats, rabbits, and chickens. In the process, they help to take care of themselves and learn invaluable vocational skills that will be essential to their success as Kenyan adults. While in Kenya, the SStS group will stay near the orphanage in order to build personal relationships with the children living there. In addition to teaching and playing with the children, participants will work on projects such as improving the existing bio-intensive farm and building eco-cottages at the Tiriji Eco-Center, which provide sustainable revenue streams for IPI. Throughout the project phase, students will also have the opportunity to spend an evening around a campfire with local residents and elders, to spend a night with a family in a rural village, and to visit schools and homes with IPI’s community liaisons. Finally, the course concludes with a safari in the world-renowned Samburu game park, where students are likely to see a range of animals (giraffes, elephants, zebras, lions, and antelope) as they finish their course in global citizenship.
COURSE DATES:
June 24 to July 11
PARTNER
“I learned that we should look at the world’s problems as all of our problems and work together to solve them. I also learned more than I can put into words about the value of resilience, a positive attitude, and education.”
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
NEPAL The SStS Nepal course begins in Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu, where staff from SStS’s non-profit partner, The Small World (TSW), will greet the group. The next two days will be spent acclimating and visiting various UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the famed Monkey Temple. After this introduction to Nepali culture, the group will fly to Phaplu in the Solukhumbu region before trekking to the project site in the village of Salleri. For the next week, they will work on the construction of an eco-friendly and earthquake resistant hostel for 20 girls pursuing their university education. This home is designed to create a loving family environment to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of 20 young women. The women in the hostel have overcome incredible challenges to earn their high school diplomas and are aspiring to earn a bachelor’s degree at a university in Salleri. Because only 45% of Nepali women are literate, a primary focus of TSW’s work is girls’ access to education as a means to empower the next generation of female Nepali leaders. During their time in Salleri, the group will work shoulder-to-shoulder with TSW staff and skilled local artisans from the village. Throughout the project phase, students, in pairs, will live with local families in order to have an authentic immersion experience in the daily routines of a Nepali family. Upon completing the project, the group will then trek through the Himalayas on a route that was once taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey on their way to Mount Everest. Students will hike for four days through isolated villages surrounded by misty rhododendron forests and dramatic snow covered peaks rising to over 25,000 feet. At the end of this trek, the course will close in Katmandu with a special “thank you” ceremony that highlights the culture, compassion, and gratitude of our Nepali hosts and the values of global citizenship.
COURSE DATES:
June 15 to July 4
EXPERIENCE
“It’s amazing how even though we are only high school students, we can still make a really big difference in people’s lives.”
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
NEW ORLEANS The SStS New Orleans course was born in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After the devastation and floods that the storm brought to New Orleans, volunteers from all over the United States rushed to aid in the recovery of the Crescent City. Before governmental funds were accessible, several grassroots organizations sprang to life putting volunteers into action and assisting homeowners with the rebuilding process. SStS students will experience the community’s grassroots efforts to rebuild by working with one of these organizations, Common Ground Relief, which empowers residents to facilitate their own recovery by supporting projects ranging from home construction and rehabilitation to wetlands restoration and community gardening. The end goal of all of their programs is to restore viable neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life for residents. While in New Orleans, the SStS group will work both in areas of the city that have yet to fully recover and on ecological projects in the wetlands intended to lessen the potential impact of future hurricanes. Students will have a chance to experience the Lower 9th Ward, where much of Katrina’s devastation is still clearly visible today. Additionally, throughout the course, participants will explore the city of New Orleans. After hearing the music that fills this city, they will learn about the history of jazz while visiting the French Quarter. Another highlight is a swamp tour that will provide the students with a firsthand perspective on life in rural Louisiana and its unique traditions. Time will also be spent with local residents, hearing their powerful accounts of how Katrina directly affected their lives. Throughout the program, students will experience the unique food, music, and culture of New Orleans, help the community to rebuild and revitalize, and learn invaluable lessons about global citizenship.
COURSE DATES: June 21 to June 27
INVESTIGATE
“The course reinforced the idea that we are all people with the same needs, no matter where we come from or what ethnicity we are. When we cast aside false and misconceived pretenses, we can accomplish something great.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
NICARAGUA The SStS Nicaragua course primarily occurs in the small fishing village of Playa Gigante on the scenic Pacific coast. Nicaragua is a nation of awe-inspiring natural beauty. It is also the second poorest nation in the western hemisphere where only 50% of children finish 5th grade. Amidst these difficult conditions, SStS’s non-profit partner, Project WOO (Wave of Optimism), aims to mobilize local residents to harness the natural splendor of this area and the potential resources of tourism to build healthy, sustainable, and economically viable communities. Students will begin their Nicaraguan experience by spending a day in the colonial city of Granada in order to explore the rich history and culture of this nation. Then, they will travel to Playa Gigante to begin their project work and meet the local families who will be their homestay hosts for the next two weeks. As one of the few remaining publicly accessible beaches in the area, it is teeming with development, much of which is happening without long-term vision and community support. Project WOO intends to change this pattern. While in Playa Gigante, the group will support projects designed to meet the community’s greatest needs. For example, in a recent needs assessment, 80% of the population identified a community health center as their biggest priority. In response, Project WOO helped support the construction and staffing of this center. Because enhancing the quality of local schools has also been identified as a significant need, the group’s project will likely focus on improving one of the local elementary schools. During their course, students will also help facilitate various activities with local youth, including a community surf day. Finally, time will be spent working with local fisherman and on nearby farms in order to allow students to be fully immersed in the rhythms of a traditional Nicaraguan village. As the course culminates in a sunset sail and a farewell bonfire on the beach, students will have the opportunity to reflect upon what they have learned about global citizenship.
COURSE DATES:
June 28 to July 14
GLOBAL
“I learned what it meant to be a global citizen -- a person who not only takes the initiative to fix problems of social injustice but also inspires others to help.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
PERU The SStS Peru course begins in Cusco, a beautiful Andean city renowned for its rich archeological history from both the Incan and Spanish Empires. After spending a couple days acclimating and visiting several sacred sites, the group will connect with our primary non-profit partner, Corazones para Peru. Although the Peruvian economy has experienced significant growth in recent years, many rural Andean communities have yet to benefit from these improvements. Consequently, Corazones para Peru works to enhance the lives of orphans and abandoned children by creating a safe environment where they can grow and develop in harmony with their indigenous culture. The SStS group’s primary project will focus on the expansion of incomegenerating facilities and other agricultural programs that are critical in supporting the orphans at the Munaychay Children’s Village. Nestled at nearly 10,000 feet in the scenic Chicon Valley outside of Urubamba, the orphanage provides a home and an education to 70 children from nearby Andean communities. During the project phase of the program, SStS participants will live and work at Munaychay in order to build lasting relationships with the children living there. Additionally, students will also have the opportunity to interact with a group of inspiring young women involved in the Peruvian Promise program. Run by another non-profit called Peruvian Hearts, this empowerment program is designed to enable participants to break the cycle of poverty and to become leaders in their families and communities. After over a week engaged in these projects, the program culminates with a three-day trek in the Lares Valley. After camping in stunning cloud forests and alpine tundra over 13,000 feet, the group will take a train to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this striking setting, students will have the opportunity to consider what they have learned about global citizenship.
COURSE DATES:
June 27 to July 15
ENGAGE
“I surprised myself and learned that I am capable of so much more than I thought possible.””
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA The SStS Pine Ridge course occurs on the Lakota Native American Reservation, which is home to 26,000 members of the Lakota Nation. Upon their arrival in Rapid City, South Dakota, students will be greeted by our non-profit partner, the Knife Chief Buffalo Nation. For a variety of historical, geographic, political, and economic reasons, the Pine Ridge Reservation is the second poorest county in the United States. In the midst of these challenging circumstances, the Knife Chief Buffalo Nation is working to reclaim 1800 acres of their ancestral lands in order to restore the buffalo herds that once roamed freely on the Great Plains. It is their vision that reclaiming this land and reintroducing the buffalo will connect the Lakota people with their ancestral home for both economic and cultural reasons. In addition to this buffalo project, the Knife Chief Buffalo Nation also hosts camps, guided by tribal elders, for Lakota children that are intended to revive vibrant traditional beliefs and ways of living. While in Pine Ridge, the group will work shoulder-to-shoulder with the leaders of the Knife Chief Buffalo Nation as well as a group of local Lakota youth. The primary focus of their project will be building fences for a new buffalo pasture. Throughout the project phase, participants will camp in a ponderosa forest, near where the Knife Chief holds their annual Sun Dances. In order to enhance their understanding of the ancient and modern history of the Lakota people, time will also be spent helping to prepare for the ceremonies that will be held at a Lakota children’s camp hosted by the Knife Chief group. The course will then culminate with students participating in traditional Lakota ceremonies. Over the course of their time in Pine Ridge, students will learn about how thoughtful and committed grassroots leaders are embracing traditional Lakota beliefs as a means to address modern challenges.
COURSE DATES:
TBA - Final dates will be posted on the website in January 2015*
* Our partners will be determining the exact course dates during their winter solstice ceremony. The course will likely occur in late June and early July.
CITIZENSHIP
“Tibet led me to contemplate what constitutes real necessities in human existence. This contemplation was the foundation of the personal growth that I experienced on this extraordinary journey.�
Service Curriculum Trekking Living Conditions On the Move Homestay Remoteness
TIBETAN PLATEAU
WESTERN SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA The SStS Tibet course begins in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. This rapidly expanding industrial hub not only has over 14 million residents, but it also has over 2000 years of history. Guided by our hosts, the group will spend the first days visiting cultural sites, including a panda-breeding center, before driving to the city of Kangding on the Tibetan plateau. At this point, the group will begin to work directly with SStS’s non-profit partner, the Tibetan Village Project (TVP). TVP is an organization dedicated to promoting economic development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet through projects that are locally supported and sustained. After a night in Kangding, the group will travel to Sihurong, a village in the scenic Kham region, where the TVP staff will introduce the group to their project. The primary focus of the service work will be the Tibet Ecowaste Project that is part of TVP’s Tibet Social Entrepreneurship Initiative. The goals of this project are to encourage environmental awareness, reduce pollution of essential water supplies, and create economically sustainable recycling options for local Tibetan communities. While in Kham, the students will live with local families and spend several nights at the centuries-old Sihurong Monastery. These experiences will provide participants with the opportunity to be fully immersed in the lives of traditional Tibetan villagers. In addition to directly observing the daily rhythms of this ancient culture, the group will also spend time hiking in the magnificent Tibetan landscape and visiting local monasteries to learn more about Buddhist traditions. Significant time will also be spent developing relationships with the TVP staff and local entrepreneurs. In many ways, the contrasts that the students will experience between life on the Tibetan plateau and in the bustling industrial city of Chengdu will help them to better understand the meaning of citizenship and the divergent forces at work in the rapidly changing nation of China.
COURSE DATES:
June 20 to July 7
*This course occurs in western Sichuan Province, not in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, which has been the center of recent unrest. Sihurong is over 1000 miles from Lhasa.
COURSE ELEMENTS
Service (time spent working)
On the Move (time spent traveling)
At least half the days at each course location are spent engaged in meaningful service work, shoulder-to-shoulder with our non-profit partners.
Depending on where our partner non-profit is based, traveling significant distances from arrival cities to project sites is often necessary. As a result, the amount of time spent transitioning between sites varies in each program
Curriculum Participants are required to complete SStS’s Five Lenses Curriculum. This includes a series of online lessons (30 minutes per week) prior to traveling, peer-led discussions while in the field, and advocacy presentations upon returning home.
Trekking (time spent in outdoor pursuits) Work projects at all sites require strenuous manual labor, so being physically fit is important. Some courses have additional outdoor experiences (e.g. hikes) with varying degrees of physical intensity.
Living Conditions (level of ruggedness) SStS students are guests and volunteers, not tourists, with local non-profits. Consequently, lodging and food for participants deliberately mirror those of local residents. In some program sites, living conditions are more rustic than in others.
Homestay (length) Homestays (which typically occur in groups of 2 or 3) can be invaluable in allowing students to directly experience the culture and rhythms of life in each course site. Depending on the community where the project is based, homestays vary in length.
Remoteness (time spent in rural settings) The location of projects can change each year because SStS supports the work that is the current priority of our nonprofit partners. Therefore, projects can occur in rural areas, cities, or a combination of both.
high moderate low
The safety of our students is the highest priority for Students Shoulder-toShoulder. Although objective risks exist in immersion programs, SStS has a variety of tested policies for managing and mitigating any challenges that arise. Central to our risk management strategies are the relationships that exist with our non-profit partners, which are well-respected organizations with deep-roots in the local communities. Additionally, our course instructors are experienced and well-traveled professional educators. If we determine that an unacceptable level of risk exists, we alter itineraries without hesitation.
EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL CITIZENS Apply online at www.shouldertoshoulder.com