Who we are
The Global Cultural Education Initiative fosters an environment in which an international community of students are provided a platform from where they can enhance their knowledge, explore their curiosity, and challenge the current condition of our planet.
By promoting environmental stewardship that transcends beyond the boundaries of traditional academia, students have the opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge varying impacts of climate insecurity, critique the efficacy of contemporary solutions, and collaborate within action-oriented projects. For many students, GCEI is more than just an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue encompassing current Water, Food, Energy, Shelter and Health challenges. GCEI encourages self-development.
GCEI is a platform that lifts the voices of young adults around the world and opens the door for a new generation of world leaders.
GCEI’s approach is designed to ensure every student learns with understanding, makes excellent ongoing progress in their learning and builds skills in applying knowledge to real life situations in their own contexts. The goal is to provide every student with strong foundations, to encourage and facilitate critical awareness of international mindedness and environmental stewardship and have enough skills to properly choose and build a better future, not only for themselves but for their own communities.
The short and long-term vision is for such a process that supports teachers to nurture wonder, ignite passion and provide every young person with knowledge, skills and attributes that will help prepare them for a lifetime of learning, meaningful actions, and effective future citizenship, strengthening youth participation in environmental and climate decision-making processes.
AREAS OF SERVICE
GCEI’s Areas of Service are five critical issues at the intersection of international understanding and environmental stewardship of the planet, which are explored in multiple ways and are relevant to the students, and the larger community.
WATER
Issues affecting water resources, sustainable alternatives to issues of availability of water, of clean drinking water, awareness in the larger community, etc.
Shelter
Issues affecting housing in different parts of the world: wars, internal conflicts, poverty, etc. Alternatives to the identified issues as well as initiatives for sustainable housing, etc.
Food
The underlying causes of food scarcity, be it war, natural disasters or climate change, use of pesticides, composting, food shortage, wastage, distribution, etc.
Health
Aspects related to good health and wellness, the UN’s worldwide efforts for health, alternatives to improving the quality of life of their communities, etc.
Energy
Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy, global energy issues, energy conservation, fossil fuels, etc.
POSSIBLE AREAS FOR GCEI’S ACTION:
- Transforming our relationship with nature
- Halting biodiversity loss and restoring ecosystems
- Mitigation and adaptation to fight climate change
- New measures of progress toward sustainable development
- Producing and consuming sustainably and fighting pollution
- Achieving sustainable consumption and production
- Fighting plastic and chemical pollution
- Social justice and intergenerational equity
- Social justice and sustainability
- Intergenerational equity
- Culture, education and science to build solidarity and collaboration
United Nations Environment Programme (2022). Leadership Dialogue 1: Reflecting on the Urgent need for Actions to Achieve a Healthy Planet and Prosperity of all [Zero Draft]. https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/38647.
VALUES
GCEI honors the unique cultures and histories of young people by fostering a student-driven learning environment in which a globally diverse community of students work together, to imagine new solutions to the most pressing problems facing the planet.
Community
Inquiry
Integrity
Compassion
Equality
Justice
Curiosity
Hope
Empathy
Respect
MISSION, VISION, OBJECTIVES & PILLARS
MISSION
GCEI encourages and facilitates critical awareness of international mindedness and environmental stewardship in schools and educational partners, domestically and internationally.
VISION
GCEI envisions a world in which young learners from disparate parts of the world increasingly recognize that our shared responsibility for the health of the planet cuts across cultural and national boundaries and is rooted in our common humanity.
OBJECTIVES
To facilitate regular cross-cultural learning opportunities for students in the areas of international understanding and environmental stewardship… the international classroom.
To encourage both student and faculty engagement among participating schools and educational partners, supporting common global learning and discovery objectives.
To encourage the integration of the threads of international mindedness and environmental stewardship into existing 6th-12th grades school curricula and educational programs.
PILLARS
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practice.
INTERNATIONAL MINDEDNESS
A view of the world in which people see themselves connected to a global community that assumes a
sense of responsibility to its members; involving an awareness of the inter-relatedness of all nations and peoples and a recognition of the complexity of these relationships.
GLOCALIZATION
We are simultaneously citizens of a locality, a state, a province, a country and the planet.
