Empathy to Impact: Inspiring Service Learning & Project-Based Teaching for Aspiring Global Citizens

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Thinking of developing global citizens and changemakers in your classroom? Collaborate with Inspire Citizens and check out Inspired Coaching opportunities, Inspired Experiences, and other ways to partner with usFor more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Louisa, Rani, Tul, & Rena are students at NIST in Bangkok. They share a passion for environmental sustainability. Listen as they share about the diverse opportunities they have as students to engage in service learning, and how they are developing leadership skills through their involvement in community projects through their service clubs, and participation in Service Co, a student organization that oversees 50+ service clubs across campus. Service learning really is a gateway to community engagement and positive change and cultivates a changemaker mindset that will carry on beyond school.A big shout out to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode. Use promo code IMPACTLT20 to get 48% off your first subscription or 20% off a one time purchase.https://magicmind.com/impactlt

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. For more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkAt the time of publishing, COJOWA is working on permission from all parties to share the documentary that the students created. Stay tuned. Hopefully we will be able to share the documentary soon.If you would like to learn more about this project you can read more here.To connect and/or contribute to the students’ work in Tierra Bomba, please reach out to Inspire Citizens.Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode, I connect with Isabella, Miguel, Sebastian, Indalecio & Susana, recent graduates of Colegio Jorge Washington in Cartagena, Colombia. Listen how these students, as part of an integrated unit that combined Spanish and sociales (social studies), connected with a local community, conducted a needs assessment,  developed a collaborative partnership, and used their expertise to design and prototype solutions. Listen as they discuss the project and the roles they took on as part of the collaboration.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Thinking of developing compassion in your classroom? Collaborate with Inspire Citizens and check out Inspired Coaching opportunities, Inspired Experiences, and other ways to partner with usFor more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary At the American School of Dhahran, an ISG school in Saudi Arabia, there is an initiative to develop compassion in the middle school. In collaboration with Ivy Yan from Inspire Citizens, students participated in workshops that focused on compassion for self, compassion for others and compassion for nature. From there, students collaborated in groups to design projects, within their school, based on compassion. The student-led initiative that we are focusing on in this episode is Flipping the Switch for a Better Day led by grade 8 students, Apoovra, Maazen, and Rishi. Listen to learn more.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Connect, follow and collaborate with HelpUpInstagram: @help_up__Linkedin: helpupappEmail: contact@helpup.infoFor more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link#EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Youth sometimes are thought of through the lens of a stereotype that paints a picture of screen-addicted partiers who are disconnected from local and global issues. This is certainly not the case for my guests Alex and Marta from Barcelona. They contend that many young people are passionate about global issues, and are eager and enthusiastic for opportunities to be part of the solution. As high school students, they identified a challenge for young people in getting connected with NGOs, and other organizations that lead impactful, sustainable work in our communities. They, along with their colleagues at HelpUp, decided to take action and do something about this. They have created the app, HelpUp, to connect young people with NGOs to create opportunities for meaningful volunteer work. Join me as they discuss their experience and learning as entrepreneurs, their international recognition, and their aspirations for the future. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Thinking of inspiring some young podcasts in your classroom? Collaborate with Inspire Citizens and check out Inspired Coaching opportunities and other ways to partner with usFor more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Exciting things are happening at FISW. In the fourth grade classrooms of Chris Thompson and Molly Schuster, students are creating podcasts. They are leveraging their writing skills and learning new skills with technology to tell engaging stories about issues that they care about and changemakers who inspire them and using these podcasts to share their learning across the school community. Listen to learn more about the process and what they thought about this new unit. Special thanks to Chris and Molly for being guest hosts of this episode.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. More information about the Climate Journal Project can be found hereFor more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link#EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Erika is a doctoral candidate and research associate at the Center for Sustainable Futures at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a research fellow at Columbia’s Climate School. Her dissertation focuses on youth climate activism and youth agency in social movements. On this episode she joins me to discuss her work empowering youth activists, and programs like Youth At The Center and how this leads to community engagement for students and opportunities for collaboration and action.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. For more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkConnect with Finley and his work as a changemaker hereLearn more about what is happening with the Frankfurt International School Changemakers #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode I meet Finley, a young changemaker from Frankfurt International School. Despite living in a place that has easy access to safe, clean water, Finley became connected with this important global issue through reading an amazing book by Linda Sue Park and listening to Nantume and Nkoba share their work on the Empathy to Impact podcast. Through the support of his family and a school program that nurtures young changemakers, Finley has been able to turn his passion for safe, clean water into a global collaboration that is impacting the lives of entire villages and the families living there.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs whole-school service learning programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Tim, a 10th grade student at ISBkk, recognized that the inequity he was witnessing in his home country of Thailand was largely due to inequity in the access that people have to quality education. He was inspired by a summer internship program that he attended and develop the project to collaborate with teachers at his school to provide training for aspiring educators entering the teaching profession in Thailand. Listen to learn about this amazing program and the reciprocal partnership that has developed between the Equitable Education Fund and ISBkk as a result of Tim’s work.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs whole-school service learning programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary At UWC Maastricht, Grade 5 students in Ms. Melissa‘s class are engaged in a writing unit. Not so unusual on the surface, but let’s explore this in more detail. Students first read a handful of different mentor texts from blog posts on zero waste, to poems for peace, Sylvia Duckworth posters, and Jory John books.  They focused on different ways that authors try to have an impact, whether it be evoking emotions, making connections, sharing new learning, changing the reader's perspective, taking action, or making them wonder.  They then chose an issue or topic they found motivating, from bullying, to promoting kindness, to the benefits of sports and healthy living, to encouraging students to learn a new language.  They then explored different possible audiences and formats.  What would it be like if it were a poster? Or a short article featured in our parent newsletter? Some even made a powerpoint for new students, to share with them everything they need to know about their school from a student's perspective.  Ms. Melissa led several mini-lessons to try out techniques that other authors use, from changing up the page layout to repeating key words, to introducing facts in an interesting way.  The final reflection and celebration included thinking back to their intention as an author, sharing their writing with multiple students across the year 6 classrooms and seeing how it was perceived by the audience.  They also read it at their student-led conference and got their parent's feedback.  They then had to see if the audience perceived it as they intended and in the future, what might they do to make this a closer match. Listen and learn more from the students about this writing experience that empowered them to explore an issue. They cared about and share their learning with their audience about sustainability.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.For further exploration of Nolan’s work, visit these links:Dr. Nolan HigdonProfessor of History, Media Studies, and EducationSubstack (Subscribe for free)LinkedinMuckRackPropWatchProject CensoredUnion for Democratic Communications Recent books: •The Media And Me A Guide To Critical Media Literacy For Young People (2022)•The Anatomy of Fake News: A Critical News Education (2020)•The Podcaster's Dilemma: Decolonizing Podcasters in the Era of Surveillance Capitalism (2022)•Let’s Agree to Disagree: A Critical Thinking Guide to Communication, Conflict Management, and Critical Media Literacy (2022)Connect with Inspire Citizens for Eco-Media experiential learning programs for your school Learn more and/or register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate Program in partnership with ISSYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactLooking for more? Check out The Center for Humane Technology Episode SummaryHow might we reimagine social media and our use of technology as a force for good that lets us feel happier and more connected? How do we develop critical media literacy in our students? How does AI fit in to the critical media classroom? All this and more in this timely and inspired conversation with Dr. Nolan Higdon. Join us. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs whole-school service learning programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode, I connect with service learning leaders Pooja, Maya, Minnie, & Poj. These young global citizens share an interest in service through the lens of unity, collaboration and humanitarianism. Listen to our conversation to hear about the multitude of options for students at NIST to engage in meaningful, impactful, and sustainable service through collaboration with diverse community partners in Thailand. We talk about the current projects and aspirations of the service clubs that they are personally involved with, as well as how they have developed as leaders through their work with their clubs and ServiceCo, a student-led organization within the school, who, among their many responsibilities, coordinate and offer leadership and oversight to the many initiatives happening across the school. How might we work together to create a culture of service within our own schools and empower students to take action for a more just equitable, joyful, and sustainable future?  Listen and be inspired.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs whole-school service learning programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Oprah Winfrey said, “Everybody has a story. And there is something to be learned from every experience.” Aaron Henkin and Wendel Patrick fully embrace this with the mosaic of stories that they capture hiding in plain sight on their podcast Out of the Blocks.  I invite you to join me on this encore episode to hear about how this idea became a powerful learning experience for students and think about how the power of storytelling might transform your classroom. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Update: Aya’s paper got published! You can read it here. It is article number 4 in the 10th issue of the Intercultural Connector. Congratulations to Aya on this amazing accomplishment.New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs whole-school service learning programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary It was so amazing to meet Aya from the International School of Kigali in Rwanda and learn about her passion for mindful service and how it connects to intercultural competency. Her 4 pillars of mindful service would be a great starting point for any school designing a service learning program, or evaluating the impact of their partnerships. How might we engage as listeners, connect with communities from a place of equality, build relationships, establish trust and collaboratively design actions that have positive impact and develop reciprocal partnerships? Listen to find out.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programsCheck out Namya’s websiteYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode I meet Namya Joshi, an education activist, changemaker, and “STEMinist” from India. She is passionate about getting more girls involved in STEM, and gamification as a teaching strategy to increase engagement, particularly through the use of Minecraft.  In addition to her many achievements, she is a Minecraft Ambassador for Microsoft. She also lives by the motto #EachOneTeachTen. Listen to learn more. 

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. New from Inspire Citizens: Inspired Coaching & Inspired Experiences Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programsLearn more about Service Learning at COJOWA Read more about this story in this Inspire Citizens vignetteYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkShare on social media using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Dominique, Alithza & Martin are 3rd grade students at COJOWA in Cartagena, Colombia. In a recent unit, combining Spanish and Sociales, students collaborated and learned from local farmers at Granitos de Paz.  This reciprocal partnership involved students learning about what foods are growing locally in their community from the farmers and creating a system for members of their community to purchase directly from the local farmers, rather than buying imported foods with a higher carbon footprint. Other experts from the community also visited the class as guest speakers. This service learning project is a great example of how students can work collaboratively with a community partner to both learn from that community partner, and make meaningful contributions to their work.