School-2-School Linking

School-2-School Linking

Tasleem, a student in Pakistan, managed to save her schoolbooks during the flood in 2010.

Photo Š 2010 Isni Ahmad

Activity Guide

Table of Contents Getting Started Welcome to School-2-School Linking S2S Basics How to Use This Toolkit Cross-Cultural Understanding Staying Safe on the Information Superhighway Plan USA’s Child Protection Policy Step-By-Step S2S Activities Calendar Participant Communication Log

Introductions

Goal Letters KWL Chart Shopping Around the World My Online Profile A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words My Hopes and Dreams

Daily Life

A Day in the Life Photo Collages My Life in Three Minutes Culture-By-Number School Map

1 2 4 5 6 7 11 12 13

15 17 19 20 21 22

24 25 27 28 29

Culture Culture Tree Interlocking Circles of Culture Discovering Culture as Extraterrestrials Culture Capsule Act One Parallel Mapping Project

Issues

Media Monitoring To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

Whose Responsibility?

Climate Change Action Plan Cultural Exchange Topics and Issues

Just for Fun

Storyboards and Comic Strips Email Chain Movin’ and Groovin’ My Playlist Once Upon a Time…

On the Playground Create Your Own Activity

31 32 34 36 37 38

43 44 46 48 50

54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Appendix Features of Culture— Building Bridges: A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding

Convention on the Rights of the Child Guide Whose Responsibility? Venn Diagram

62 63 66

Getting Started

A little girl attends a Plan-sponsored preschool in Guinea-Bissau.

Photo Š 2007 Roland Geisheimer

Welcome to School 2 School Linking!

Plan International USA is excited that you’ve joined this yearlong journey with your linking partners abroad. From exchanging information about your group members and your community to discussing current global issues and the role of youth in that process, we hope your group has fun and makes new friends along the way.

Why Is S2S Important?

The world becomes more and more connected every day with advances in communication technology, mass media, and transportation. News stories travel from one side of the world to the other in seconds. Issues such as climate change, human rights, international trade and economics, peace and security, gender equity, and good governance affect all people, no matter where they live. Children and youth all over the world yearn for the same basic necessities: food and water, education, a bed to sleep on, health and wellness, a safe place to play, and loving guardians. As seen with recent natural disasters in different corners of the globe, what happens in one country greatly affects the world’s entire population. We are all citizens of the global community.

By participating in School 2 School Linking, your group members will have the chance to get to know other youth, just like them, in a different country. Through this process they will not only engage in meaningful cross-cultural learning, but will gain valuable insight into their own culture and values. Participants will cultivate skills for effective communication with their linking partners through their own writing, artwork, and conversations. These toolkit activities will give participants the opportunity to further develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, confidence, and communication. Through S2S, participants will experience how fun and enriching international partnership can be.

Cross-cultural understanding, language skills, and knowledge of international places and events are quickly becoming necessary 21st century skills. It is hard to imagine any job in the next decade that will not involve at least one of these components: an officemate from a different cultural background, an international company branch, colleagues or partners who speak a different language, or products that come from overseas. Just as our youth need to be trained in writing and computer skills, also paramount is their ability to operate within a multicultural context. This will be vital not only for their future career successes, but also for their daily interactions within society.

Most importantly, we hope that participants will garner greater respect and appreciation for other cultures and people through S2S. We hope this experience will then inspire them to be our global leaders of tomorrow.

1

S2S Basics Linking Countries Plan works in 50 countries around the world. Plan will connect you to a country in one of the following regions: Latin America, Eastern and Western Africa, or Asia.

Language There are many languages spoken throughout the Plan world. We can connect you with an English-speaking country, but we also encourage students to practice new language skills. If you would like to start a School 2 School Link with a country that speaks a different language, Plan staff and the Google Translator function on the website will help translate messages between groups. We also encourage students to use music, video, and other forms of visual expression to communicate with partners who might not speak the same language.

Number of Participants To ensure that each student is able to fully participate in the program, it is best to limit the total number of students to 30 in each group. We can set up multiple links in the same school or organization if more students would like to be a part of the School 2 School Linking program.

Communication Length School linking relationships are meant to last throughout the school year, from September/October through June. At the beginning of the year, facilitators from both groups decide on the activities their groups will do throughout the year. At the end of the year, both groups will evaluate their experience and decide whether they wish to continue for the next year.

Frequency of Communication Frequency of communication can vary depending on the linking partner and their available resources. It may take several weeks for letters to be sent through the postal service, so groups that are not connecting online might share less frequently than those that are online. Each group is expected to participate in at least one activity per month (and two in the first month). Students participating in S2S online are encouraged to post videos, art, music, and other media as often as possible throughout the partnership. You are certainly welcome to exceed these minimum communication requirements!

Means of Communication S2S links that are connecting through the mail will send their materials to the Plan International USA office at 155 Plan Way, Warwick RI 02886. A Plan staff member will review the materials and forward the activity to the linking partner.

2

Links that are connected through the S2S Website will be able to communicate with the linking partners by using the facilitator’s log-in name and password. All online communications will also be monitored by Plan staff to ensure participants’ safety and comfort.

We highly encourage the use of technology in the S2S program. Although accessing technology can be challenging in some places, we will work to coordinate a web-chat session between your groups whenever possible. To coordinate live video or web chat sessions, contact s2s@planusa.org.

In accordance with Plan’s Child Protection Policy, all internet communication between groups should occur on the secure website provided. Students should not share personal email addresses or communicate one-on-one outside of the School 2 School link. Please refer to the Child Protection Policy submitted to your S2S facilitator and Rules for Safe Communication for details.

Youth Driven All S2S links are youth driven. The most successful links are those in which the youth have ownership over their involvement.

Here are some fun and easy ways to involve youth more in the S2S process:  Youth choose the activities for the exchange.  Youth lead group-wide monthly activities individually or in small teams.  Facilitators do not alter the content of youth posts on the S2S website, such as spelling and grammatical errors.  Facilitators encourage youth to be ambassadors for the program and share their experience and learning with their school or community.

3

How to Use This Toolkit Timeframe Activities in the School 2 School Curriculum Guide are divided thematically: Introductions, Daily Life, Culture, Issues, and Just for Fun. Each group will choose three activities in each category and send their activities to the School Linking Coordinator at Plan. The School Linking Coordinator will put together a monthly schedule for the link so that groups can see what their partners are doing each month.

Standards For each activity, suggested educational standards have been provided. These can serve as a guide for standards that might be applicable in your area. They are not meant to be comprehensive. The standards have been provided by Education World at http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/toc/index.shtml.

Materials There are recommended supplies listed for each activity. Substitutes are welcome if the specific materials are not available.

Technology Most of the activities in this toolkit were designed to be shared by using the Internet.

Some activities, though, can still be implemented without access to the Internet.

For activities requiring an Internet connection, you will find this symbol: For activities that can be completed with the postal mail, you will find this symbol: Some activities can be carried out either way, and will display both symbols.

Questions Each activity provides follow-up questions to encourage further exploration into each topic. These can be answered together as a group or individually by the participants.

Create Your Own In the Just for Fun section, you will find a blank template with which your group can create its own activity. If you'd like to share it with other School 2 School links, send us your activity and we'll publish it with your group's name.

4

Cross-Cultural Understanding By participating in School 2 School Linking, your group will be exposed to many cultural differences and new perspectives. While you might find many similarities between your group and your linking partners, you might also be introduced to ideas that you have never considered. Before we can begin this learning process, it is important to keep some guidelines in mind.

Throughout the year, you can ensure that your group is being sensitive to cross-cultural differences with your linking partners by following the S2S PEARLS of Wisdom. These guidelines will help to guarantee that everyone involved in the program has an enjoyable and rewarding School 2 School Linking experience.

S2S PEARLS of Wisdom

Positive – It is important to keep a positive attitude throughout the process.

Negative attitudes or unfriendly comments can be rude and insulting, and can disrupt the productive exchange between linking partners.

Engage – Participation is key.

The more involved you are in the process, the more you and your linking partners will get out of the program.

Ask – When you don’t understand something a linking partner has said or done, don’t be afraid to ask. Cultural misunderstandings can be avoided by asking respectful questions.

People appreciate when others take a genuine interest in them.

Respect – Showing respect to your linking partners and your fellow classmates is absolutely necessary for School 2 School Linking to be successful. Be wary of subjects that might be of a sensitive nature to your linking partners, and show them appreciation for what they are willing to share.

Listen – Listening and trying to better understand the daily lives of your linking partners will aid you in getting to know them. Also be mindful that there might be a language barrier, so communicating might require some extra patience.

Share – For this exchange to be mutually beneficial, be sure to share your life, culture, and experiences with your linking partners. They are excited to learn about you and to form new friendships.

Safe Communication We want to make sure participants are safe while discussing and taking action on global issues. Here are some guidelines to help ensure everyone’s safety and comfort: 1. Protect your privacy.

Only use your first name and country when talking about yourself in letters or online. Don't include your personal information (for example, your email, home address, or telephone number) or any pictures that show where you live (for example, your home with the number visible).

2. Work together to create a respectful space in which everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions.

Encourage and support others’ thoughts and ideas. Don’t use ethnic slurs, personal insults, or obscenity. Be considerate of others’ nationalities, cultures, religions, and personal beliefs before posting.

3. Speak in the first person Use "I" and "me" instead of “we” when sharing your opinions and thoughts.

4. Don't post pictures or speak about other people on the S2S site without their permission.

It is okay to talk about people or your community generally, and to post pictures of crowds of people. However, don’t use names of people without their permission.

5. Respect copyright and fair use laws.

Don’t post anything online or include anything in a letter that isn’t uniquely your own without citing the source.

6. Only post photos, videos, and files that are appropriate and relevant to the discussion topic.

If you have any questions about whether the material you are posting is appropriate, contact your facilitator or Plan International USA before posting.

Your facilitators and Plan International USA reserve the right to remove any postings that are offensive or inappropriate.

6

Plan USA’s Child Protection Policy Preamble Plan International USA is an international, child-centered community development organization, linking caring people and institutions in the United States with needy children in developing countries. As the U.S. member of Plan International, Inc., a global federation of Plan agencies in 65+ countries (“Plan”), we exist to help children and families affected by poverty to meet their basic needs, achieve economic improvements, and increase their ability to participate in and benefit from their societies. We are a nonprofit organization without religious, political, or governmental affiliation. Child sponsorship is the basic foundation of the organization. Our vision is one of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect the rights and dignity of all people.

Plan International USA staff are employees of Plan International USA and include YEA staff.

YEA, Youth Engagement and Action, is a division of Plan International USA that is dedicated to engaging children and young adults in helping to make their world a better place. Through education about issues surrounding poverty, youth become inspired to participate and be part of the solution to addressing these issues.

YUGA, Youth United for Global Action and Awareness, is a program of YEA. It is a diverse network of children and young adults aged 12-24 from around the country who promote global unity, understanding, and change through awareness, action, and connection with other young people from around the world.

Policy statement The primary goal of Plan, YEA, and YUGA is to serve the needs and protect the well-being of children and young adults and help them to meet their potentials. Acting on behalf of the best interests of children and young adults, and in agreement with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the law, Plan, YEA, and YUGA design and implement programs so as to protect children and young adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Plan does not tolerate child abuse, neglect, or exploitation in any form. All children have the right to be protected. This policy shall be construed consistent with, but also supplemental to, applicable law.

To this end, adults working with children in Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA activities shall:    

Familiarize themselves with situations that may present risks to children and young adults and learn how to deal with those situations; Contribute to an environment where children and young adults are able to recognize unacceptable behavior and feel safe and able to discuss their rights and concerns; Avoid being alone with any child regardless of the reason; Report concerns about any known or suspected case of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other violations of this policy, in accordance with applicable procedures.

7

Application These standards shall apply to all persons involved with or participating in Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA programs and activities.

Definitions Child: a person less than eighteen (18) years old.

Adult: a person eighteen (18) years old or older.

Young adult: a person between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-four (24) years old, including a person who is eighteen (18) years old or twenty-four (24) years old.

Older adult: a person twenty-five (25) years old or older.

Child neglect/abuse/exploitation: physical, mental, or emotional harm to a child, sexual contact with a child, sexual gestures or sexual statements made to or in the presence of a child, gross negligence involving the health and welfare of a child, or other violation of a child’s basic human rights by a person.

1. Behavior Protocols/Codes of Conduct while working with Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA. 1.1 Each adult shall not take a child into a private place out of view of other adults. Young adults are encouraged to be accompanied by Plan International USA staff or another older adult.

1.2 Each adult shall not be alone with a child who is not part of their immediate or extended family, whether in a house, hotel, campus, or elsewhere.

1.3 Whenever possible and practical, each adult shall abide by the “two adult rule,” wherein two or more adults are present and supervise each activity where a child is involved.

1.4 Each adult shall be aware that there might be a child who, because of child abuse/neglect/exploitation he/she may have experienced or witnessed, might use a relationship to obtain “special attention.” Each adult shall be fully responsible for maintaining an appropriate relationship with each child, even if such child behaves inappropriately. Adults shall not place themselves in compromising or vulnerable situations.

1.5 Each adult shall refrain from making any statements, having any conversations, and performing any actions that have the potential for creating an unreasonable risk of child neglect, abuse, or exploitation.

1.6 Each adult who witnesses an act(s) that violates this policy and jeopardizes the health, safety, or welfare of a child shall take whatever immediate action is necessary to secure the immediate health, safety, or welfare of such child. Such adult shall immediately report same to any appropriate Plan International USA staff member, who shall immediately take whatever further action might be necessary to secure the health, safety, and welfare of such child, as well as report the incident to the Plan International USA Vice President for Human Resources for consultation regarding further action(s), including the involvement of law enforcement.

1.7 Each adult shall immediately report any concern about a known or suspected case of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other violation of this policy, to any appropriate Plan International

8

USA staff, who shall immediately secure the health, safety, and welfare of such child and report same to the Plan International USA Vice President for Human Resources for consultation regarding further action(s), including the involvement of law enforcement.

1.8 Inappropriate behavior by any person toward a child, particularly behavior that constitutes, or creates a risk of, child neglect, abuse, or exploitation, or other violation of this policy, is grounds for discipline, up to and including dismissal from the program, employment, or internship; and/or legal action.

2. Protection of personal information 2.1 Parents/guardians, young adults, and children might have revealed personal information about their health to ensure their safety. Plan International USA staff takes precautions to ensure that such information is held in a safe, secure, and confidential manner and is not used for any purpose other than providing for the health, safety, and welfare of the young adult or child: 





Only limited number of specifically designated persons will have access to this information; they will share this information only to the extent necessary to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the YUGA participants.

This information is stored securely. To protect information that is stored electronically, access to Plan International USA computer systems are protected by passwords which are issued only to Plan International USA staff.

If such information must be destroyed, it will be done so in a secure manner.

2.2 Established measures ensure that Plan International USA staff, other adults, and YUGA members/participants do not put children at risk, either through action or inaction: 





All Plan International USA staff and other adults participating in Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA programs are educated in Plan International USA's Child Protection Policy and related child protection issues and are required to acknowledge in writing an understanding of Plan International USA's Child Protection Policy and their agreement to comply therewith.

All Plan International USA staff and other adults participating in Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA programs involving children must undergo criminal background checks and must be cleared before participating. Plan International USA will not knowingly employ anyone with a conviction for child abuse, child neglect, pedophilia, or a related offense.

Any Plan International USA staff member involved in the Plan International USA/YEA/YUGA program shall be an appropriate contact person to whom concerns regarding a child’s health, safety, and welfare shall be reported. Said Plan International USA staff member shall report same to the Plan International USA Vice President for Human Resources for consultation regarding further action(s), including the involvement of law enforcement.

4. Communications with or about children 

With respect to any communication with or about a child(ren), pictures and language shall be decent, respectful, and not constitute a violation of this Child Protection Policy.

9



Plan International USA staff and other adults shall not provide a child(ren)'s personal address, contact information, or other information to any person without the written permission of such child’s parent/guardian.

5. Dealing with child neglect/abuse/exploitation Alleged cases of child neglect/abuse/exploitation shall be referred to local law enforcement.

6. Confidentiality An allegation of child neglect/abuse/exploitation is a serious issue. Therefore, all Plan International USA staff and other adults shall keep all facts and circumstances (including identifying information) of the alleged incident confidential in order to protect the rights and interests of the alleged victim as well as the alleged perpetrator (keeping in mind that the alleged perpetrator might be innocent and shall be afforded and enjoy the presumption of innocence unless and until they are determined to be guilty in a court of law). Communication of information that could identify an alleged victim or an alleged perpetrator shall only be provided on a "need to know" basis. Unless and until the alleged perpetrator is found guilty of child neglect/abuse/exploitation, all persons shall refer to him/her/them as the “alleged” perpetrator and to the incident as the "alleged” incident.

10

Step-by-Step S2S Step 1: Application and Group Profile Facilitators from each group submit S2S application and group profile.

Step 2: Groups are Linked Each group is notified of their linking partner for the year.

Step 3: List Top Activities Each facilitator notifies Plan of the top activities the group would like to do from each chapter (Introductions, Daily Life, Culture, Issues, Just for Fun). Plan will confirm the final activities with each group.

Step 4: Confirmation of Activities and Schedule Once agreed upon by everyone, each school will receive a final description of the school linking project, including activities, contact information, and a timeline.

Step 5: Start Activities and Communication Each group can begin communicating and completing the monthly activities.

Step 6: Midyear Check-In Plan will organize a conference call with both facilitators to assess the year’s progress and to make any necessary changes to the program.

Step 7: Close of Program After the program closes, each group will evaluate its experience and will decide whether to continue the partnership the following year.

11

Activities Calendar With your linking facilitator, choose the activities that you want to do each month.

Note that there are two activities during the first month and one every other month.

Once you complete Month 7, you can select activities from any chapter.

Activity

Month

Completion Date

1: Introductions 2: Daily Life 3: Daily Life 4: Culture 5: Culture 6: Issues 7: Just for Fun 8: Extra 9: Extra 10: Extra

Additional Activities

If your group has time to do extra activities, write down your favorites below.

Activity

Completion Date

12

Name: ________________________________

Participant Communication Log

Keep track of how often you're communicating by recording your letters and posts in the table below.

Month

Date of Message

Means of Communication (online or postal service)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

13