Global Voices

by Julia

In this issue

International Women's Day Crisis in Venezuela: A student's view Being successful in an online class Fitness tips Food for thought: Learning moments and puzzles Student poetry

Foreword Welcome back to our second edition of Global Voices; we’re excited to have you back!

This issue is all about learning something new; from being inspired by fascinating speakers at an International Women’s Day webinar, to gaining an understanding of the crisis in Venezuela.

Until our next newsletter, you can stay in touch by following us:

@pamojagsc

We’re also including everything in between student poetry, top tips, brainteasers and more!

What’s been inspiring you recently?

We had the amazing opportunity to attend a webinar on International Women’s Day, and speak with ladies around the globe working to redefine power and leadership. Below, you can read more about it and join the conversation yourself by connecting with us on Instagram.

We’re also covering health and fitness, in a piece that looks at different ways to improve your lifestyle, as well as top tips for online learning - submitted to us by a reader! The second student submission we received recently is a poem entitled ‘Darkness’, which you can find towards the end. We strongly encourage student submissions as it connects the Pamoja community and lets us interact with each other more, so send your content to us by emailing gsc@pamojaeducation.com.

Our special feature this issue is a piece on the crisis happening in Venezuela right now; a thought-provoking and eye-opening look at what’s going on from a student’s perspective.

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Best wishes,

Harneet & Emily GSC President and VP

International Women's Day

by Harneet On March 8th, the GSC Student Ambassadors had the chance to participate in an exciting Women’s Day webinar about redefining power and leadership, organised

by Hilarie Owen from the Institute of Leadership. There were three speakers: Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley, Lesley Abdela, Senior Partner at Shevolution Consultancy and Georgia Williams, Logistics Officer at the Royal Air Force.

Hilarie Owen began the webinar by introducing the key themes; the number of women in positions of power and leadership, the culture that operates within and filters down from these positions, and what change is required.

The first guest speaker, Dacher Keltner, said that more female voices need to be heard in order to initiate a cultural shift and achieve balance. He made a point to note that data shows that women in positions of power and leadership lead differently than men do; where women have more power, there is also more equality. The female model of power is more collaborative and horizontal than the male.

Keltner said: “We are at the most exciting moment in the last 15,000 years for women in power. We are changing the male default and it’s going to be a different world.”

The second guest speaker was Lesley Abdela, who had some powerful points to make about “shevolution” - a word she invented to describe what happens in an organisation when an equal balance of men and women exist: "She, and he, and evolution". In most organisations the power is still majority male, which begs the question: What will happen when balance comes? The priorities and agendas of those in power will shift, filtering down and ensuring cultural evolution. Owen added a thought; many women are undergoing (or need to undergo) an identity shift to become comfortable in positions of power and leadership.

The third and final guest speaker was Georgia Williams, who spoke of her own experience: “Throughout my [military] career I have avoided discussing gender, because it drew attention to me being a woman, to being the ‘other’ and ‘not the same’.” She always felt the desire to be ‘one of the boys’, which was the negative impact that being in an all-male environment had on her.

However, Williams realised that changing herself and denying her gender to fit into the male default was an ingrained bias that was detrimental to all of the ‘others’ in the world.

All of these speakers are having difficult but essential conversations on a daily basis about the culture change that is happening right now in power and leadership, and what we need to be doing to contribute to the shift. What do you think?

Email us at gsc@pamojaeducation.com

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Crisis in Venezuela: A student's view

by Julia When I first arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, I was certain I was in paradise. It is the land of eternal spring, with a warm tropical breeze rustling through the palm trees and tickling beneath the wings of brilliantly-colored macaws.

The people are exceptionally openhearted and welcoming. Named after the national hero Simón Bolívar, liberator of South America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela boasts stunning scenery and incredible biodiversity.

Home to the world’s largest oil reserves; the tallest waterfall, Angel Falls; and a rich cultural and natural environment; the country used to be the wealthiest in Latin America.

When you enter the city nowadays, you can expect to see several things. There are billboards commemorating Chavez, alongside billboards saying “Leopoldo #LibertadYa” which refers to the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez who has been jailed for going against the government. Graffiti displays the woes of the people; most have the word “dictadura” (“dictatorship”) spray-painted wherever possible.

One alarming piece of graffiti I saw reads: “TENGO HAMBRE”; “I’M HUNGRY”. Food shortages in the country became common in 2017, as basic necessities such as flour, milk, and baby formula are nowhere to be found on market shelves. Long lines snaking around supermarkets are not an unusual sight either.

Yet, despite the country’s rich assets, it is going through a crisis due to a corrupt government which has been likened to a dictatorship. The nation’s previous president, Chavez, has been hailed as protector of the lower classes and has indeed done a lot to help them. However, his policies and corruption have set Venezuela on a course towards a downwards spiral. Power was handed over to his personally chosen vice president, Maduro, after his death.

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Money is exchanged on a black-market rate, the so-called “dólar paralelo." Those who earn in foreign currency have the upper hand by far due to this exchange rate. Venezuela’s economy is largely dependent on its most valuable resource, oil, and the recent drops in worldwide oil prices have further worsened the economic situation. Bills are being freshly printed at an astonishing rate to make up for the inflation; those dispensed from ATMs are often in sequential order. Still, the government continues to accuse capitalist nations such as the United States of causing a “Guerra económica” in the nation, simply put, they claim the US is the reason for Venezuela’s economic crisis.

Every single person raised their hand, including myself. My parents have been robbed at gunpoint more than once, but that doesn’t scratch the surface of what happens in the nation’s capital. Horror stories involving shootings, kidnappings, and others quickly surfaced. There are many other stories that I remember involving people I knew. That year, the school’s receptionist’s son, around 30 years old, had been shot multiple times in an attempt to steal his motorcycle. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital. A few years back, a middle school student’s father, who worked at a pharmacy, was the victim of an attempted kidnapping. He had been shot in the arm but managed to get to his car with his son. The terrified boy was forced to take the wheel and escape. The veterinarian who took care of our dogs told us about the time the police stole his car. They entered, told him to look forward and drive, and then instructed him to get out at a certain point. The maid working for us, who lived in the slums, termed “barrios” in Venezuela, had witnessed a murder. There had been a shooting going on when an old lady peered out from her window to see what was going on. She was purposely shot dead. There are many more such stories, each of them the cause of unimaginable grief for friends, mothers, and whole families.

The crisis in Venezuela has touched everyone, but it is undoubtable that the lower classes are affected the most. Insecurity is at an all-time high. According to Business Insider, the capital Caracas ranked as the world’s most dangerous non-warzone city in 2017, with an estimated 130.35 homicides per 100,000 residents; official reports are no longer released due to the high number of deaths. I remember being in Spanish class in the 10th grade when our Guatemalan teacher asked us about living in Venezuela. He asked who has experienced crime in the country. The class consisted mostly of Venezuelans holding dual citizenship (a requirement to be enrolled at the international school), and three foreigners (including me).

To fully comprehend the situation in Venezuela, you must live it. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: you have to live it to believe it. I lived in Venezuela for seven years - it was my home from 2009 to 2016, and I was there during Chavez’s death, multiple protests, and almost up until some of my friends were evacuated due to the situation.

But I wasn’t there when the situation became this grave. I was fortunate enough to be able to leave, an opportunity few have. And how difficult must it be to leave behind your beloved homeland and family?

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t n e d Stu ssion i m b su

Being successful in an online class 3. Find a friend Whether through the course, online, or in your community, try to find someone that knows a lot about your course and ask them to help you.

by Lauryn student at Gar-Field Senior High School, USA My name is Lauryn, I am a senior in high school and I currently take Mandarin ab initio with Pamoja. Mandarin is the third class I've taken online, and my first through Pamoja. Through trial and error, I have a few tips and tricks for fellow Pamoja students:

4. Ask for help While you may feel like you're constantly nagging your teacher for help, you are not. Your teacher wants you to reach out and ask questions. Just like teachers in your school, they want you to succeed.

Likewise, if you are struggling to keep up with your coursework, ask for an extension. An extension can provide the time you need to understand a topic or complete an assignment.

1. Give your online class as much time (if not more) than your in-person courses With an online class, it may seem easy to delay assignments, but an online class requires plenty of intrinsic motivation.

5. Find what works for you Maybe the format of your online course is confusing, or not what you are used to.

Look at how you take notes for other classes, and model it after that. Or, try something new - flashcards, writing drills, online quizzes - something will work.

2. Stay engaged Don't just gloss over the course content, engage with it. Talk to your classmates on the discussion board. Find a method of note taking that works for you.

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Fitness tips

Exercise is as important as school!

Tip #2 Get active

by Harneet We are more than three months into 2018 and by now, most people have started to slack off on their new year’s resolutions, especially the ones concerning fitness!

Below, I have put together a few tips to help get you back on track to accomplishing your goals.

One of the easiest ways to improve your fitness level and become a healthier person overall is to be more active! That does not mean you have to go crazy at the gym for two hours every single day to see results; baby steps are key. If hitting the gym is not for you, then there are plenty of other things you can do as well. For example, you can start off by joining a sports club at your school/community or even go on walks every day for 30 minutes. Anything is better than nothing.

Tip #1 Avoid crash dieting at all costs Plain and simple: Crash course dieting is not sustainable. If you want to become and stay healthy; you have to find a diet that both keeps you happy and sustains your body. There have been lots of diet fads going in and out of style, including the gluten-free diet. However, unless you’re allergic to gluten, there is really no reason to cut it out of your diet. I promise you, you will still see the fitness results that you want even with gluten in your diet!

Tip #3 Go easy on yourself One of the biggest problems when people create fitness goals for themselves is that they expect too much in too little time. When they do not see the results they want, they begin to blame themselves and become upset. It is extremely important to remember that achieving your fitness goals, whatever they may be, will take time.

It is not healthy to cut out entire food groups from your diet because, let’s be honest here, it just makes you crave that food even more. Instead, live by the motto: “Everything in moderation,” and you will achieve your goals in no time.

Everybody has lapses and eats that one food they have been avoiding like the plague ever since they started their diet. It is okay to indulge in the things that make you happy and it is important to realise that you are human; you cannot expect perfection all the time. It is difficult, but you should always try to find a balance for yourself where you are on track to achieving your goals and are also happy along the way!

Good luck with your fitness journey!

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Did you know?

kummerspeck is a German word, meaning 'excess weight gained from emotional overeating'.

"Kummerspeck" literally translates as 'grief bacon'.

#LearningMoment

Puzzle You'll need a pen and paper for this!

Lisa, Serena, John, and Ryan each bought a different fruit.

by Sherina

One of them bought an apple, One of the bought a pineapple, One of them bought an orange, And one of them bought a watermelon.

Clues: Lisa paid more money than John.

John bought an orange.

Of the person who paid $1 and the person who paid $4, one was Lisa and the other bought a pineapple.

The person who bought an apple, the person who bought an orange, the person who paid $2, and Serena are all different people.

One fruit cost $1, One fruit cost $2, One fruit cost $3, And one fruit cost $4.

Which person bought a pineapple?

Which fruit cost $2?

How much money did Lisa spend?

Which person bought the watermelon?

First 5 students to Instagram DM or email us with the right answers WIN a goody box! Ready, set, go!

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@pamojagsc gsc@pamojaeducation.com

t n e d Stu sion! is m sub

Darkness

by Majed Student at Island Academy International School, Antigua and Barbuda As I look up to the sky in awe the sun begins to descendtormenting the horizon.

Passing through the traffic of trees

The sun and the moonA battle of pacifism, Knowing versus unknown, Battle of immense beauty-

Flowers dress themselves for the long slumberThe sounds of the birds Consumed by the crickets-

Eyes battling the mind darkness is the only comfortAs I grasp the unknown, My eyes open in shock-

The sound of joy fades, As the feeling of ambiguity heightensHopelessness takes effect in the dark winter night

darkness transcendsInto greater darkness A shade so dark It out glistens the galaxy-

As I glance across the falling snow there is no sight of lightOnly the scintillation of the stars providing false hope-

The eyes are frozen But the mind is still activePerception is lost, Intelligence enhanced-

My eyelids then conclude Things begin to shineAs for the darkness within me Evokes more light than a dozen suns-

The water drips on the head Of the individual who is over itTraumatizing, frightening until loss of sightWhere true serenity is met-

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@pamojagsc gsc@pamojaeducation.com