Young People Learn How to Change the World on the Banks of Shawnigan Lake
Dwight Global Leaders Academy Draws Students from Around the World for a Unique Social Entrepreneurship Training Program
(PRWEB) August 10, 2012
This summer, while many ambitious high school students are improving their athletic abilities or pursuing their musical interests, more than 50 young people from around the world are coming together to learn how to make the world a better place through the Dwight Global Leaders Academy.
This unique program, which began this year on July 27 and runs through August 10, is located at Dwight School Canada, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for boarding and day students in grades 6-12. The DGLA is specially designed for young people who not only want to learn, but also want to give back. Through an immersion curriculum that encompasses project management, team building, leadership training, collaboration, goal setting, fund raising and promotion, each participant will graduate with a tool kit to effectively plan, execute, and promote his/her own service project.
The DGLA was created to inspire and educate the next generation of global student leaders to take positive action in their local and global communities. It is an extension of the Dwight Schools, a global network of schools with additional campuses in New York, London, Beijing, and Seoul that share a commitment to igniting the “spark of genius” in every child. Dwight’s educational philosophy is built on three pillars: personalized learning, community, and global vision. The DGLA, which draws participants from all Dwight campuses and beyond, helps students to identify their passions and provides the practical skills they need to develop and implement meaningful public service projects. One recent DGLA graduate, Nielsen Dias, was recognized for his high-level commitment to serving others with two prestigious US Congressional Medals for Service.
“This is only our third year running the DGLA and the track record of our students has been phenomenal. After leaving the academy, over 80% of our attendees have launched initiatives that have directly impacted their communities,” said Graham Brown, PhD, Director of the Dwight Global Leaders Academy. “These have run the gamut from environmental initiatives to crime-preventing activities, and what they all have in common is that they’re manifestations of each student’s passion, which we at the Dwight Schools see as central components to success in education and life.” For more information on DGLA student projects, visit http://www.dwightleadershipacademy.org.
Students at this year’s DGLA share the same passion for making a difference as their predecessors; for example, 17-year-old Balsa Medojevic who lived in Montenegro before receiving a scholarship to attend Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong. His goal is to help diffuse ethnic tensions in the Balkans by bringing young people together to collaborate on environmental sustainability projects. “Sustainability is an issue that crosses all ethnic and religious backgrounds, so developing collaborative, environmental programming is the perfect conduit to bringing different populations together – while also benefitting future generations,” said Balsa. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but I felt like I really needed guidance. Being at the Dwight Global Leadership Academy has given me that and so much more.”
For Shayda Swann, a student at Dwight Canada, the DGLA is helping her flesh out her plan to create a junior youth empowerment program right in her hometown of Mill Bay. Her goal is to provide kids ages 9-14 with the opportunity to participate in service projects, teaching them values and, hopefully, changing the potentially negative perceptions many can have of young people. “I’m very shy, but this experience has really changed me,” said Swann, who comes from a family of doctors and hopes to become a pediatrician. “I’m learning alongside such an amazing group of people and the exercises we’re engaging in here have given me skills that I didn’t have before.”
Daniel Cole, 17, a Floridian who will be a senior at Dwight School London this fall, found inspiration for his project from his love of photography and his growing fascination with community-building. His goal is to identify everyday people within his London community, photograph them, and find a public display space to tell their stories. “There are so many people we pass every day about whom we know nothing. Photocaptioning is a powerful way to highlight those who can often go unnoticed, and makes us look at people in our own community in a completely different way,” said Daniel, who plans to attend NYU.
The DGLA has consistently produced successful global leaders, with graduates attending such leading colleges and universities as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and Oxford. For more information, including how to apply, visit http://www.dwightleadershipacademy.org.
More About the Dwight Global Leaders Academy
The Dwight Global Leaders Academy is a partnership between the Institute for Civic Leadership and the Dwight Family of Schools (http://www.dwight.edu), a worldwide network of educational organizations committed to global vision, community, and personalized learning, with campuses and programs in New York, London, Canada, Beijing, and Seoul.
Contacts:
Shonna Keogan, +1-917-660-7462, skeogan(at)dwight(dot)edu
Christine Bater, +1-250-929-0506, cbater(at)dwightcanada(dot)org
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/8/prweb9782066.htm
Read More »Wildchild stomps into Cowichan
Just when you think you know everything, kids remind you how much there is still to learn.
This is the lesson Keith (Wildchild) Middleton is taking away with him after spending three days as a mentor at the Dwight International School’s two-week Global Leaders Academy at Shawnigan Lake.
Middleton is one of the original members of STOMP, the energetic musical and dance performance made famous by its rhythmic beats using garbage cans and brooms. The academy’s founder, New York-based Kirk Spahn, invited Middleton to Shawnigan Lake to interact with the 60 participants ages 14 to 18.
“When I called Keith he said, ‘If it’s for kids, I’m there.’ He took days off work to come. He’s been here three days and he wants to stay longer,” Spahn said.
Global Leaders Academy is a summer leadership program for high school students from around the world who have a passion for leadership and service. Spahn, whose father is the Chancellor of Dwight International Schools, created the program in response to what he perceived was a lack of understanding in youth about how to provide community service.
Spahn lives in New York and was struck how, after the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, many youths wanted to help their communities but didn’t know where to begin.
“They are inspired and they want to act but they don’t have the tools to do so. That’s where we come in,” Spahn said.
The program helps participants understand the process of raising money or awareness for a cause, and gives them tools to execute their idea when they return to their communities.
Spahn asked Middleton to join them because he knew Middleton would connect with the kids.
“We don’t like someone to come in, give a speech and leave. We look for speakers who will participate in the workshop.”
Middleton taught the kids about collaboration and spontaneity by involving them in a mini performance of STOMP. Middleton asked the kids to choose one of the objects he found in the school’s kitchen.
“A pot, a bucket, ketchup bottles with rice in them to make shakers, trays, trash liners, spoons and water bottles, tea cups and mugs, so many things. Within 20 minutes all the kids were playing in rhythm, making music,” Spahn said.
Savannah Swann is a Mill Bay resident who has attended the academy program every year since its inception two years ago. This year, she put her leadership skills to use as a junior facilitator. Swann said she feels lucky to have had the opportunity to participate.
“It changed how I approached learning and put me into a leadership position in my school. I learned how to communicate better. I was part of the senior council, captain of volleyball team, and I stood in front of the school in the mornings giving announcements and encouraging young kids to take part in the dances and make it a closer community.”
Swann was especially grateful for her exposure to participants from other countries, “Being surrounded by multiculturalism gives me a more open view of the world.”
Middleton was also impressed by how the multicultural aspect of the program exposes the kids to what’s happening in the rest of the world, and he praised the kids for their courage in participating.
By Maeve Maguire – Cowichan News Leader Pictorial
Published: August 18, 2012 10:00 AM
Original Article: http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/news/165606246.html
Read More »Dwight Global Leader Recognized by Congress
Dwight Global Leaders Academy graduate Nielsen Dias received the Congressional Medal for Service by Congressman Steve Stivers for his commitment to volunteerism. The Dwight Global Leaders Academy, based at Dwight International School, Vancouver Island, trains service-oriented young people to use their talents and abilities to make a difference in the world.
Vancouver Island, Canada (PRWEB) March 29, 2012
The Dwight Global Leaders Academy (http://www.dwightleadershipacademy.org), a unique leadership-building program developed as part of the Dwight Family of Schools, is proud to announce that Dwight Global Leader Nielsen Dias was awarded two Congressional Medals in recognition for his commitment to volunteerism. The award recognizes service, initiative and achievements of young people ages 14 to 23 and is presented through the Congressional Award Foundation, a public-private partnership, in four program areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
Nielsen, 19, is a graduate of the Dwight Global leaders program. Presenting Nielsen with this honor was U.S. Congressman Steve Stivers, who was able to meet with the young service leader in person.
“Nielsen is a fantastic example of how the Dwight Global Leaders Academy teaches young people skills and values that they then take back into the world,” said Graham Brown, President of the Dwight Global Leaders Academy. “We’re fortunate to have had many young people like Neilsen go through the academy and it’s a source of tremendous pride when we see the great work they’re doing, and the fact that they’re getting recognized for that work.”
This past summer, Nielsen attended the Dwight Global Leaders Academy at the Dwight International School in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The Dwight Global Leaders Academy is a two week intensive program that trains young people to identify their unique talents, or “spark of genius” and develop a plan to leverage their abilities to help make the world a better place. As part of the program, participants conceptualize, develop and implement their own charitable programs. Graduates of the academy go on to attend some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Stanford, Harvard, Dartmouth, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of British Columbia, MIT, Yale and Edinburgh.
Nielsen received a scholarship to attend the program by the Alcoa Foundation, whose mission is to build innovative partnerships with groups to educate tomorrow’s leaders in areas of service and sustainability.
“Above all else I would like to thank Alcoa for even giving me the opportunity to attend such a prestigious academy,” Nielsen said. “The Dwight Global Leaders Academy gave me the extra confidence and skill set to go out and achieve my goals of changing the world little by little. The countless experiences I learned at the academy will stay with me for the rest of my life and will serve as my guides towards my future.”
A longtime volunteer in his hometown of Miami, Florida, Nielsen has worked for the Ronald McDonald House, Cyder Reading for the Blind and Starbucks Youth Philanthropy Committee. Nielsen is currently a “Fisher Cares” volunteer and a “Scholars for Service” award recipient. He tutors students at the Windsor School, serves meals to homeless at Holy Family Soup Kitchen and he packages food at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank for distribution.
About the Dwight Global Leaders Academy
The Dwight Global Leaders Academy is a partnership between the Institute for Civic Leadership and the Dwight Family of Schools (http://www.dwight.edu), a worldwide network of educational organizations committed to global vision, community service and personalized learning, with campuses and programs in New York, USA; London, UK; Vancouver Island, Canada; and Seoul, Korea. The Academy was created to inspire and educate the next generation of global student leaders to take positive action in their local and global communities. The DGLA provides students critical leadership skills so that every young leader can plan, execute and promote their own unique service project and, in the process gain, critical life skills essential for university admittance and beyond.
For more information about the Dwight Global Leadership Academy, or to apply for summer 2012, visit http://dwightleadershipacademy.org/apply.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/3/prweb9342657.htm
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