We recently received a report from Clinton School student David Watterson (’11) who completed his International Public Service Project this summer in Kenya where he helped create a cultural exchange program between American and Kenyan high school students. Here’s Watterson’s report:
For my project, I have created the Global Student Summit program for Kijana Educational Empowerment Initiative. The program will engage Kenyan and American high school students in cross-cultural dialogue via videoconference and solutions-based activism addressing issues of global importance.
For the program’s first pilot “campaign,” starting in September and running through May 2011, 45 students — 30 from Kenya and 15 from the high school I went to in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — will promote solutions to global fresh water scarcity. The World Bank estimates that in 20 years water demand will exceed supply by 40 percent, making clean freshwater accessibility one of the most pressing – and most ignored – issues facing the world in the 21st century.
On Friday, July 30, I hosted a student orientation for the program’s 30 Kenyan student participants – 10 each from three local high schools here in Western Kenya – to introduce them to the program and to each other. Each of the students received a Participant Guide titled “Water Sustainability: Finding Solutions to Fresh Water Scarcity,” containing readings on the problems and potential solutions to the global water crisis, reflection question, and inspirational quotes.
Compiling the guide was one of my primary tasks during the past 10 weeks, so it was very exciting for me to place a copy in each of the students’ hands and to see how much they appreciated it. As I explained to the students at the orientation, they will now be responsible for becoming experts on sustainable water use and to promote their knowledge and ideas to others. As part of the program, they will give presentations to their school communities and raise money for local water projects to mark World Water Day on March 22.
They will also work together to write and submit policy proposals to their national leaders – the presidents of the United States and Kenya, as well as the students’ local representatives in Parliament and Congress – and international leaders at the United Nations. I know these students are going to contribute some very serious ideas and proposals. They have blown me away with their knowledge of world issues and commitment to education. The orientation was a very gratifying end to my international project – My project will soon be over, but their’s is just beginning!