Global Citizens Program

“The need to enhance global competency and global education is more critical then ever to prepare students for leadership roles within an increasingly interconnected global community. We are excited about this opportunity to work with United Planet and we believe that the Global Citizens Program will provide outstanding opportunities for the students and teachers of Boston to expand their global perspectives while becoming more responsible local and world citizens.”   

    -Irvin Scott, Academic Superintendent, Boston Public Schools

United Planet: Your Partner in Global Citizenship

According to a recent report of the Asia Society and the Goldman Sachs Foundation, entitled Educating Leaders for a Global Society, three key capacities will be central to the success of the next generation of leaders in the new global economy: 1) Global knowledge that goes beyond food, flags, and festivals 2) Acquisition of language skills 3) Global awareness based on genuine respect for and interest in different perspectives

United Planet’s Global Citizens program transforms youth into good global citizens by:

• Promoting global understanding
• Building 21st century leadership skills
• Increasing civic responsibility
• Fostering multicultural dialogue
• Sharpening language skills
• Connecting high school and middle school students with counterparts around the globe

United Planet’s highly innovative and entrepreneurial network of leaders and volunteers foster cross-cultural understanding and address shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders—at humanitarian and community development projects worldwide. Our work is supported by a broad base of educators, non-profit and international business professionals who serve on United Planet’s board.

As “Your Partner in Global Citizenship,” United Planet will work closely with your school to create a special customized program to suit your needs and goals from the following program options.

Classroom and Extracurricular Programming

Ambassador Clubs: Form a United Planet Ambassador Club at your school and enable students to develop creative globally-minded leadership skills, gain a rich understanding of world cultures and pressing global challenges, and give back to the world by serving together.  A whole new world will be opened as your school connects with other clubs in Boston, Cameroon, the Gambia, and more. Read more

Cultural Awareness Projects: Host speakers from countries around the world to provide a real life perspective to students beyond the textbook or media.  After 9-11, CNN followed United Planet volunteers from throughout the Arab world as they spoke in Boston schools. Read more

School to School (S2S) Partnership Development: United Planet’s School to School Network (S2S) builds personal and institutional relationships between students, teachers, and schools around the world with the goal of advancing cross-cultural understanding and global civic engagement.  

Customized Internal Program Development: United Planet will work with you to support additional needs and requests outside of our existing programs when possible. There are many unique opportunities through academic/international non-profit organization partnership to tap into enriching synergies.

International Service, Language and Cultural Immersion

• Individual Student Break Volunteering—available in Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and Romania

• Student Group Volunteering—send groups on customized programs year round to a variety of locations

• Gap Semester/Year advising and programming

Sample Volunteer Abroad Quest Locations

• Latin America: Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador

• Asia: India, Nepal, Cambodia

• Africa: Ghana, Tanzania

• Middle East: Jordan

• Europe: Romania

Gap Year Advising and Programming with Long-term Volunteer Quest Program:  Comprehensive volunteer abroad gap year programs for six months to one year in 25 countries for US and Canadian residents who are at least 18 years old.  Many students decide to take a gap year before going off to college, such as Laura Dick who deferred her NYU acceptance for one year while she volunteered  through United Planet in Kenya. Students receive personalized consulting and the opportunity to participate in a U.S. based pre-departure retreat. Read more

Program Evaluation: United Planet will conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations, including questionnaires, interviews, and site visits.  United Planet will report on positive outcomes, changes in behaviors and attitudes, and skills learned/applied. The qualitative analysis will document the implementation and impact of the program for school administrators and educators.  Assessments will be made to evaluate: participant learning, participant behavior (concrete actions to apply knowledge learned), and institutional changes, such as increased participation and collaboration.

Funding: United Planet provides the Global Citizens Program as an ongoing free resource to inspire Global Citizenship among our next generation of leaders at private and public middle schools and high schools.  United Planet does not charge schools for the program.  Local programs are completely free of charge.  Programs involving international travel require a program free to cover all related expenses.  United Planet is actively seeking financial and in-kind support to offer this program to more schools.