Student and Teacher Exchange, July 2007

Relief International - Schools Online welcomed five students from Afghanistan and three students from Bangladesh to the East Coast of the United States on July 10 – 30, 2007. This exchange program focused on youth leadership and civic empowerment, especially using technology, while providing the students with an opportunity to learn about the culture and people of the United States. The program introduced students to the principles and values of participatory democracy and provided them with basic tools that they could use for civic action in their home countries. Students spent the first few days of their visit to the US in Philadelphia, where they learned about the birth of American democracy and civil society. Then, the students transferred to Washington, DC, where they participated in a series of workshops and meetings with various organizations and spent a day advocating on Capitol Hill. The workshops, which combined presentations and interactive exercises, were facilitated by RI – SOL staff and representatives of partner organizations. They were designed to:

(1) teach participants about models of leadership and civic action at the local, national and international levels (through community service, political action and advocacy)

(2) provide participants with the organization, communication and advocacy skills necessary for effective leadership and civic action.

Site visits to civic organizations and a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill provided real-life examples of citizen and youth involvement in the United States. Throughout the duration of the program, students were given time to consider follow-up activities and ways in which they would apply the knowledge and skills gained while in the United States. By the end of their visit, the youth drafted action-oriented post-exchange plans.

A professor from Nangarhar University accompanied the students and spent much of his time in the US with education faculty at Washington, DC universities. An expert in psychology, pedagogy and sociology, Professor R. learned about active teaching methods, ways to incorporate technology in the classroom and the American educational system. Upon his return to Afghanistan, he conducted teacher training workshops for educators engaged in the GCE project.

Use the links to the left to read detailed accounts of the student and teacher exchanges!