EARCOS GIN 2012
Keynote speakers Scott Hammell and Rob Dyer join a middle school GANG as they discuss ways to alleviate extreme poverty.
MS delegates listen attentively as Louis Ng, founder of ACRES, gives his keynote on animal rights and rescues.
Time To Act, Time To Change
EARCOS Global Issues Network Conference 2012 “GIN conferences help to form a stronger connection within the youth community…and build a mutual bond between international students with the hope that they will educate their community when they go back home. As far as I’m concerned, that is the most important aspect of a GIN conference.” Timothy Cyrillis Young, Grade 12, SAS and GINSING leadership team member GINSING gets to the root of global issues and inspires action More than 700 students from Asia and beyond gathered in Singapore from November 9–11, 2012 for the largest EARCOS GIN conference to date. Singapore American School (SAS) and UWC South East Asia, East Campus (UWCSEA East) co-hosted the 2012 Global Issues Network conference (GINSING). More than 450 high school students (ages 14-18) converged at SAS while more than 300 middle school students (ages 11-14) gathered at UWCSEA East for the first GIN conference-within-a-conference for middle school students. ‘Time to Act, Time to Change’ The planning committee intended that GINSING be an action-oriented conference. That commitment was evident in the conference theme – ‘Time to Act,Time to Change’ – as well as the student-designed logo. Motivated by the reality that we are running out of time to solve the sustainability issues plaguing Earth, the student leadership team incorporated into the logo a clock set to 11:57, representing the three years remaining before the Millennium Development Goals deadline.The GINSING name and logo also reflect the ginseng plant, with the plant’s roots prominent in the logo. As ginseng roots are often used in Asia 14 EARCOS Triannual Journal
for their healing abilities, so does GIN contribute to healing the planet. Focus on environmental sustainability Holding the conference in Singapore offered participants a unique opportunity to experience first-hand some of the wide-ranging examples of development and sustainability in the city-state. The first day of the conference was designed to prime participants for the following two days of discussion and workshops. All delegates participated in experiences that enhanced their knowledge about possible responses to issues of environmental sustainability and energy and resource management. The Middle School participants visited an environmental learning centre in Singapore’s Dairy Farm Nature Park for an experiential session led by the JUMP! Foundation followed by a sustainable picnic. The session fostered leadership and teamwork as well as environmental awareness to effectively set the stage for the weekend conference sessions and action planning. For high school delegates, SAS teacher Steve Early and his student team worked with the Singapore Tourism Board to design 21 different ‘ecoCare’ excursions focused on nature, technology or education. Activities included planting trees, exploring preserved ecosystems and visiting sites that address solutions to environmental and resource management issues.
long after GINSING as green roofs reduce energy usage, lessen surface runoff, filter air pollutants and increase biodiversity. Both students found the project empowering. “If two students with no money and no experience can do this, anyone else can,” Kirsty said, when asked what she learned from the experience. Katherine agrees, “I’ve learned that it’s possible for youth to tackle world issues.” Dairy Farm, UWCSEA and SAS have all committed to maintain the roof garden, and they hope to replicate the project model with other schools and businesses in Singapore. So before the conference even officially opened, a group of students had already taken sustainable action for the environment. Abundant inspiration and support Following the first day’s excursions, all participants gathered at SAS for the official opening including keynotes from Room to Read founder John Wood and magician Scott Hammell as well as dance performances by SAS students and Epic Arts. The evening culminated with the Peace Concert and Global Village exhibition of NGOs. Throughout the weekend, keynote speakers and NGO mentors engaged students with knowledge and inspiration while also coaching them in leadership and organisation skills. Participants were fortunate to have access to such experienced and committed mentors.
Green roof ‘ecoCare’ excursion sets the stage for action One of the ecoCare excursions, a green roof project, centred around the installation of a rooftop garden atop a large supermarket near the UWCSEA East Campus. The project was the result of collaboration between the host schools, a business (Dairy Farm Singapore) and the government (National Parks Board).
Uniquely GINSING To support the conference’s commitment to action, GINSING introduced Global Action Network Groups (GANGs) to allow students from different schools across the EARCOS region to share and learn from their experiences with a global issue of choice and network to create effective solutions to that issue.
Originally conceived by UWCSEA East Grade 11 students Kirsty Benham and Katherine Lundevall, the project will continue to make a difference
Technology and social media also played a large part in the conference and are continuing to do so as participants stay connected online. Face-
