Update on International Outreach Camps
by Rosa Werthwein

Since I completed my service in Peace Corps Ukraine in 2008, I’ve worked with other PCVs, RPCVs and Ukrainian students to launch an organization called International Outreach Coalition. Friends of Ukraine was kind enough to make a donation to our program last year and we’d like to thank you again for helping make this program possible. We’ve brought students from other countries to Ukraine for the last two years and to Armenia last year to build a network of civic youth leaders. Hopefully, we’ll be expanding to Albania this year as well as our international student participants are always anxious to bring the program home to their friends!

The program has turned into a 4 stage process that begins with a local leadership camp and gradually expands over 5-7 years to independent large scale projects led by students in the countries with which we work.  Ukraine is currently a Stage Three program. Participants will attend a 12-day camp (Stage I) led by a combination of Peace Corps volunteers and student leaders. At camp, student participants will learn to create teams, teach classes, and design and manage small projects through concrete exercises that prepare them for Stage II projects. Stage II projects begin three days after Stage I is completed. Senior level student leaders are currently designing Stage II projects that will be staffed by Stage I participants. Armenia is currently a Stage-Two program. Here students focus on civic leadership, sharing cultures and debating issues in a Model UN session, building the creative and critical thinking and diplomacy skills they need to be leaders in their communities and across the globe.

Students at both programs have an option to design and lead follow-up projects through a program called Youth Engaged in Society (YES). This is a small grants program that offers them $50-$100 and advice so that they can put their own ideas to work once they are back in their home communities.

Our web site  ( www.iocoalition.org) describes plans for this year’s programs. We’d love to see a few more American students take part in the program so if you want to encourage your friends and family to send their youth (ages 17-22) to us, applications are available!

For more information on this project, contact:
Rosa Werthwein
Director, International Outreach Camps
1.612.598.7787 U.S./38.050.742.2443 Ukraine
www.iocoalition.org

The Trident

Index
From the Presidents desk
Rosa's Summer Camp
It's a Shoe In
Kids Around the World
M-Bags
Lets All Get Together
September 2011
All Things Ukrainian
Spring into NING
Hail and Farewell
Call for Contacts!
Where Are They Now
Wanna be a Leader?
Sasha's Story
2008 Reunion News
How Do I Join?