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International service projects
are a significant avenue of growth within the NextGen Academy. During
the year of service, the participants experience one month in a foreign
country, organizing and creating service projects of their own initiative.
At the beginning of the year, the participants are split into teams
and are each assigned a country in which they will serve. Teams are
intentionally made up of three to five people so that a greater sense
of ownership and true cultural integration can occur. This revolutionary
standard of having small teams is the core reason for the substantial
shift that happens within each individual while oversees. The level
of responsibility for the project and the level of true interaction
with local people are at a height that is very rarely seen today.
There are three equally important parts to this aspect of growth;
the first is the planning and preparation that happens before leaving
the U.S. This time focuses on gaining practical skills in teaching
character education, learning the basics of travel and also an exercise
for personal creativity as each team decides what type of service
would target the needs in their chosen country.
The second part is the time within country. Outwardly, each teams
main mission is to create projects that will make a lasting difference,
however, another primary aspect of their time in country is to experience
a new culture and through that experience gain a deeper understanding
of the world and of themselves. Through changing the life of a stranger
on the opposite side of the world, their own life can be changed.
The final part of this project is the recording and reflecting process
that happens upon return the U.S. A significant part of the international
projects is creating a report that can allow future years to either
duplicate the project, or build upon the foundation that has already
been built. This time also entails personal reflection and/or journaling
to allow experiences to imprint and to let the lessons that were learned
create a tangible impact on the lives of the individuals.
TheProject
On February 25th,
NGA is having six teams going to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia,
Tanzania, and Burundi. Each team consists of three to four first
year participants and one second year intern. The international
service will begin with an opening workshop at the Sasamotto training
center in Nairobi, Kenya and from there, the teams will depart to
their chosen nations to begin one month of service, holding projects
of their own initiative. The trip will end with a closing workshop
back in Kenya which will have a focus on reflection and sharing
of the experiences from the past month.
A
major aspect of the International Service Project (ISP), is the
preperation before hand. The entire project, from communicating
with contacts to setting up home-stays
to creating service projects is created by the teams. The projects
are based entirely on the skills, desires and passions of the participants
as well as what they believe their individual country needs.
Why Africa?
Africa is the leading continent with HIV/AIDS, violence, poverty,
starvation, poor education, gender inequality, and child abuse.
Africa is a place that is struggling with many external hardships
which makes it a logical place to choose to serve, however more
important than the needs of each country is the attitude the people
have towards those needs. There is a strong and active desire for
change within these countries. There is a growing desire to take
initiative, to be a part of something that makes a difference. For
a time, it seems that during a struggle or crisis, the trend has
been to immediately look for help from other nations, yet now that
trend is shifting, now, ground is being prepared for true ownership
to grow. A primary mission of the NextGen Academy (NGA) in international
service is to inspire those they serve to take action in their own
lives and communities. Each team NGA participants is charged with
the task of creating a "seed project", a project that
continues long after the teams have left and this can only done
if the people, and if the country, are willing to make an effort.
NGA, both international and locally, is not about changing a persons
life, it's about giving that person the tools to change their own
life.
VISION
The
hope for NextGen Academy International is to open the door for young
adults of any background to participate in service. As described
above, international service widens the consciousness of American
youth and deepens the connection of heart to each other and to the
world, while offering a very tangible good in places that need assistance.
Building the service project and the teamwork required to implement
it, are excellent tools for personal growth, provide an environment
for young people to discover their inner strength and provide a
tangible benefit for society.
Working with partners in service, such as International Relief Friendship
Foundation, Universal Peace Federation Character Education, Women’s
Federation For World Peace, Ambassadors for Peace, Service for Peace
and others, we have the potential network to offer service to almost
every nation in the world.
My hope would be to utilize this network toward creating permanent
locations around the globe that American youth could serve for periods
of a month, a year or longer. We have made a start through opening
the doors in some countries, but need greater manpower and resources
to continue this work and to make these projects sustainable.
I am excited about the prospects for service learning and will continue
to make it a component of the NextGen Academy curriculum.
Jeff Adshead
Director,
NextGen Leadership Academy
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