30 Things American and Iraqi Teens Have in Common

30 Things American and Iraqi Teens Have in Common

When we asked U.S and Iraqi teens participating in the Global Youth Village Session A, this is what they said. Share your ideas.

1. Board and Card Games!  The Iraqis taught us backgammon, and we taught them Bluff.
2. We all want the war to end.
3. We want to learn about each other.
4. Competitive nature – we’re constantly playing games and sports.
5. Tolerance.
6. Refusing routines.
7. We listen to the same music, and are having fun singing together.
8. Friendship.  We actually share a similar culture.
9. We’re teenagers!
10. We all love Harry Potter.
11. We like talking about boys, girls, and flirting.
12. Ice cream!
13. We all use Facebook.
14. We all plan to go away to college.
15. We like bowling.
16. We hate bugs.
17. We like to dance.  We learned traditional Iraqi dances from our friends.
18. We all like pizza.
19. We brought the same kind of pajamas to GYV.
20. We like hip-hop, especially Akon and 50 Cent.
21. We like to gossip.
22. We like President Obama.
23. We keep our parents in the dark about some things.
24. We’re stressed about college.
25. We want to change the world, and our communities.
26. We like making art together
27. We’re enjoying our language classes – Arabic and English.
28. We like to sleep.
29. We’re into fashion and design.
30. We’re building peace at GYV!

30 Ways to Build Community

30 Ways to Build Community

During training, the Global Youth Village Staff came up with 30 ways to build community both at the summer camp and around the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Legacy International. Let us know what you think and how you build community around you.

1. Have mutual respect for everyone
2. Strike up a conversation with a stranger
3. Carry the “Pay It Forward” attitude
4. Offer to help others
5. Get to know your neighbor
6. Greet others with a smile and kind words
7. Establish common goals and values
8. Create art together
9. Laugh
10. Be the one to reach out with a helping hand
11. Support your local theater, school, and non-profits
12. Share
13. Listen with genuine curiosity
14. Introduce yourself to someone new
15. Volunteer
16. Give compliments freely
17. Share your dinner table with others
18. Hugs
19. Connect through music
20. Give gifts for no reason
21. Smile
22. Respect the world around you
23. Use friendly dialogue
24. Open your mind to new things
25. Love
26. Be patient
27. Celebrate diversity
28. Remember the youth need guidance and positive influences
29. Coexist
30. Make the most you can out of life, now