25 Things American and Iraqi Teens Have in Common
July 21, 2010
When we asked U.S and Iraqi teens participating in the Global Youth Village , this question, they said:
1) Dancing! The Iraqis taught us Kurdish line dances , and we taught them the cha-cha slide
2) We all want the effects of war to be alleviated.
3) We want to learn about each other.
4) Competitive nature – we’re constantly playing games and sports.
5) Tolerance.
6) Creativity
7) We listen to the same music, and are having fun singing together.
8) Friendship.
9) We actually share a similar culture.
10) We’re teenagers!
11) We all love movies.
12) We have had difficult life experiences and have survived.
13) Ice cream!
14) We all use Facebook.
15) We all plan to go college.
16) We have hope.
17) We want to live green!
18) We all believe we should do our part not to waste food and help alleviate world hunger.
19) We all like pizza.
20) We brought the same kind of pajamas to GYV.
21) We want to change the world, and our communities.
22) We like making art together.
23) We like to sleep.
24) We’re into fashion and design.
25) We want to be good mothers and fathers
26) We’re building peace at GYV!
Reflections from Rwanda
April 18, 2010
Lorraine Warren first joined the Global Youth Village staff in 1996, as a Dialogue & Peace Building trainer. She has rejoined our team numerous summers since then, and has also been the lead facilitator / trainer for Legacy’s Indonesian Youth Leadership Program. In an email sent on April 18, Lorraine reflected on her current journey in Rwanda:
Hello,
I am in Rwanda; Africa after having completed an intensive retreat called Bearing Witness Rwanda. The purpose of the Retreat was to bear witness to the 1994 Genocide that occurred here and its aftermath.
In short, over 800, 000 people were brutally killed because of their ethnic background and a conspiracy by other nations who knew what was about to happen and turned the other way. This genocide has left Rwanda in many ways devastated. Of course, after 16 years the country is rebuilding itself; yet many resources are not present.
70% of Rwanda is comprised of youth with the average age being 17 years old. As a result of the genocide, many children are orphaned or living on the streets. Many people are still in a state of post traumatic stress or face trauma related issues.
The unique and interesting thing about Rwanda is that the memory of the genocide is still fresh. There are many mass graves and memorials, some of which still have bones exposed and decomposing. There are many survivors who have stories fresh in their minds. Some are willing to talk and some are still not yet ready. There are also stories of heroes/sheros who risked their lives to save others.
And, in the midst of all of this; Rwanda is absolutely beautiful. Rwanda actually means land of one thousand hills. The people we have met have been generous, kind, and unbelievably resilient.
Why am I interested in sharing with you about Rwanda?
I believe that Rwanda offers many opportunities and lessons for humanity such as the capacity of humane beings to be profoundly evil and/or profoundly good. Also, an opportunity to be conscious of our freedom to choose in any given situation.
During my time here, I have hugged survivors and shook hands with killers. I have stood face to face with thousands of skulls, bones, and clothing worn by those who perished. I have comforted young adults as they visited the memorial sites which held the remains of their loved ones in mass graves. I have cried. I have laughed. I have prayed and been in deep silence.
I have asked myself: What is the work of my hand? Why have I come here? How do I commit little genocides each day through my words, thoughts, or actions?
While here in Rwanda, I have been the died; I have survived; I have been the killer. I have been the rescuer. American; African; and the world that closed its eyes and pretended nothing was happening and nothing happened.
The three tenets of our Retreat was:
1. Not knowing
2. Bearing Witness
3. Loving Action
Not knowing involves suspending judgments and the ways we think things should be. Bearing Witness involves being with everything just as it is and is not; being present. Loving action for me involves looking at what ways I can consciously act and be differently given all I have witnessed.
As I continue to be with and process my experience, I continue to be in the spaces of not knowing, bearing witness, and loving action.
So, I guess I am having a personal retreat after the retreat. I guess it is no accident that the entire Retreat group is still here in Rwanda because of the Iceland volcano eruption.
Thank You.
God Bless You.
Peace Be Still.
Lorraine
Applications are flying in…space still available
March 19, 2010
We have received over 200 applications from Iraqi students to fill only 50 spaces! We have also 
received over 50 Indonesian youth applications for only 25 spaces! So far, we have also received applications from across the states including New York, North Carolina, Maine, Virginia, Maryland, Montana (Crow Reservation), California and Illinois!
Come join this summers Global Youth Village! If you still want to be considered for this summer’s programs send your applications now! Apply Today!
GYV wins Digital Storytelling contest!
March 2, 2010
WOW! Global Youth Village won 4th place in the TechSoup Global Digital Story Telling Event for our video entry 30 Ways to Create Peace. Check it out! The video screened in SF last night and they announced winners. From 105+ entries. GYV was one of 5 winners.
Watch it ….30 Ways to Create Peace
Face of Human Trafficking
February 3, 2010
Human trafficking is defined as being tricked, coerced or otherwise removed from a home or country, and then 
compelled to work with no payment or on terms which are highly exploitative. The practice is illegal in most countries. The victims of human trafficking can be used in a variety of situations, including prostitution, forced labor and other forms of involuntary servitude.
Due to poverty and lack of economic opportunity some people are more susceptible to fall victim to empty promises of job opportunities in other countries. Many of those who accept these offers find themselves in situations where their documents are destroyed, their families threatened with harm, or they are bonded by a debt that they have no chance of repaying.
The prevention of human trafficking requires several types of interventions and community action. One way that you can help is to start an awareness campaign in your community or local high school! Amnesty International is a non-profit organization that focuses on human rights. Learn how the youth in your area can start an AI student group at the local high school and recieve an activist toolkit
Saving Lives in Africa
January 12, 2010
On January 11, 2010, as part of our 30th anniversary, Legacy awarded Dr. Harold Robles, Chairman of Our International Board of Directors, with our 30th Anniversary Service to Humanity Award. More than 25 years ago, Dr. Robles founded the Albert Schweitzer Institute for the Humanities. After meeting Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Robles realized his responsibility to the Global Community. He says his inspiration for all his past, current and future work stems from his first meeting with Albert Schweitzer at the age of 11.
In 1999, Dr. Robles co-founded the Medical Knowledge Institute. MKI is a non-profit organization that believes and treats health care as a human right rather than a privilege. Dr. Robles believes that the future of medicine around the world is prevention thru education. An astounding fact is that 10 million children under the age of 5 die every single year from CURABLE diseases. According to the World Health Organization, for each General Practitioner there are 194,000 patients. MKI’s trainers give vital skills to people to treat and prevent diseases. For example diarrhea the number one causes of death to small children in impoverished regions. 13% of the children die from diarrhea. By empowering the people with knowledge today, you are saving the lives of tomorrow. Now that is peace worth building.
Dr. Robles endorses the Global Youth Village as a place where young people can concieve of themselves as social innovators. All social innovation starts with a goal or dream. GYV is place where you can start to discover your vision and find out how one person can make a difference.
Come to GYV and you can meet people like Dr. Harold Robles.
Support women living with HIV/AIDS by purchasing YOELL exclusive jewelry hand crafted by HIV-infected women in South Africa. With the money earned they are able to become economically independent and to support their own family.
