| October 14, 2004 |
Contact: Seóna
Ní Bhriain
Metro International |
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office: 212-431-1195
(x26) |
Metro
International Partners with IDEA Through “The People
Speak” Grants
New York City, October 14, 2004 -
Metro International and IDEA (International Debate Education
Association) forged a new partnership at the start of this
school year. In an effort to promote its goal of “rais[ing]
the level of national dialogue about America’s role in
the world,” IDEA awarded Metro International with two
“The People Speak” grants.
These grants made it possible for nine
Fulbright and other international students and scholars attending
local universities to share their perspectives on global affairs
with over 150 New York City public high school students and
teachers over the course of two days. Through this experience
New York City students were able to “learn more than
what is in textbooks,” as stated by Godwina, a student
at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education.
Working in the Baccalaureate School for
Global Education on October 7, 2004 and Edward A. Reynolds
West Side High School on October 13, 2004, Metro International
led students of different ages and from different countries
to engage in dynamic conversation about issues that impact
us all. The high school students learned a lot as was articulated
by a student from the Baccalaureate School for Global Education,
“It was very interesting. Everything they say keeps you
thinking or wanting to ask questions. Especially now that
we are studying globalization—it is a good opportunity
to learn more.”
9th grade Global History students at the
Baccalaureate School for Global Education, which serves an
ethnically diverse and economically varied population of young
people from different neighborhoods in Queens, met international
students from the Netherlands, Serbia, Indonesia, Mexico,
Niger, and Tunisia. The international students explained to
their high school counterparts how globalization impacts their
countries and regions of the world. The experiential learning
process was successful from the point of view of Raya who
had “an amazing experience where [she] got to learn something
new from a person who experienced it personally.”
At EAR West Side High School, at-risk students
from mostly low-income families in Upper Manhattan had the
opportunity to speak to people from countries all across the
world—and realize their role as Americans in global affairs.
While discussing how U.S. military and economic power impacts
their home countries, international students were able to
work within the context of the high school’s mission
to develop “economically, self-sufficient, socially conscious,
critically thinking citizens.” 9th –12th grade students
from four different history classes were exposed to new ways
of thinking and different perspectives.
The international students and scholars
also learned a lot from this experience. The perspective gained
by Mexican international student Mely highlights this learning
process: “[From the program] I understood that the vision
young Americans have of Mexico, and other countries in general,
has been formed from different and sometimes inaccurate sources;
and that this is an opportunity to understand their point
of view, but also guide them to a more truthful notion of
the world.”
Teachers from both schools have plans to
continue to draw on the ideas and perspectives raised through
the joint Metro and IDEA events beyond the initial discussions.
For more information on IDEA and The People Speak please go to www.idebate.org
and www.thepeoplespeak.org.
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