PH International

Youth LAB - Leadership Across Borders

Country: Turkey
Category: Community Development Programs

About

Youth LAB: Turkey-Armenia-U.S. is a program to foster innovative leadership and forge cross-cultural connections among Turkish, Armenian and American youth. Youth LAB is funded by a grant from the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, and is implemented by PH International and its Turkish partner, ARI Movement. The objective of the Turkish-Armenian-American Youth Leadership Project is to nurture a cadre of youth who become actively engaged in addressing issues of mutual concern to Turks, Armenians and Americans in their schools and communities, and are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become citizen activists.

The 16-month initiative will bring together 75 young leaders – 25 from each country – with creative ideas and open minds. Prior to a three-week leadership camp in the U.S., students from the three countries will communicate online via a secure website and begin talking with one another about leadership and change in their communities. In July 2011 students will come together in Vermont for a two-week leadership camp at Sugarbush Resort followed by a one-week homestay experience. Inter-national teams of students will design and plan civic activities that they will work on in their communities after they return home, and will spend the next four months implementing these projects and continuing to communicate with their peers and program coordinators as they put learning into action. In late December 2011, all students will get together again and spend ten days in Turkey and Armenia visiting each other’s projects, communities, and expanding their cultural and leadership training.

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