Speech Given to High School Students about Global Citizenship

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about one of my favourite topics.  One! International and my daughter who founded the organization. I will only give you a very brief rundown on One! International Poverty Relief as there are other things I want to talk about. I will have information available if anyone is interested in further information.

-Local, International NGO.  -400 children from ages infant to 20’s in three schools in the Mumbai area of India.  -Urban, Suburban and Rural. Democracy but medium developed country.  -Services although centered on education go beyond:  nutrition, counselling, medical, whole family.

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I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the Skills Portfolio Project.

As a previous manager with the Alberta Government and a current manager with One! International I have interviewed hundreds of people. Regardless of whether the application is for an employment position, or for a volunteer position, I am always looking to get a glimpse of the person/individual under the words. Your portfolios are excellent as they cover a number of the areas. I wish I had had similar resources when I was doing most of my interviews.

I was always and still am looking for:

• What can this individual contribute to the position and the organization?
• What does this individual want to receive by taking this position and working for this organization?
• Can this individual think and relate beyond themselves and their current life situation?

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I would like to suggest you add a component into your portfolios titled Global Citizenship.

There is no universally accepted definition but the following are components:

Awareness of the world as a global community

Understanding of the culture and challenges faced in other parts of the world.

Recognition that local actions and decisions impact the world. (climate change.  School Shootings…)

Canadians live in an increasingly interconnected world….what happens locally, now matters globally, and what happens globally, now matters locally.  We truly have become citizens of the world.

The premise behind the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is the concept that all of the world’s major challenges are interrelated and interdependent.  (Example:  Extreme poverty can lead to lack of education which then can impact decisions regarding climate change, disposal of garbage, health decisions such as Ebola.)

As a citizen of the County of Strathcona, Province of Alberta, Country of Canada we have the Responsibility of Privilege.

Being a global citizen is not limited to helping you get a job or volunteer position. Being a global citizen allows you to make decisions which take into account being a good neighbor, friend, community member, and to help influence world challenges. ( examples: special messages of love on fences, a soccer game in Red Deer following anti Muslim demonstration.)

Over the years I have been very privileged to talk to many Grade 3 students. They study India as part of their curriculum and I am asked to come in to talk about the organization and what we do in India.  The children collect pencils, toothbrushes, vitamins, etcetera to be taken to India by our volunteers. The children are very excited to think that they are helping their peers on the other side of the world.  They are already becoming Global Citizens.

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One of the best ways to gain global citizenship knowledge is through travel.  Not all of you will be able to do so, but there are still ways to learn this awareness.  We are lucky to have many citizens of other countries coming to us and we can learn from them.

If you can travel, make the travel as meaningful as you can.  You can volunteer for many NGO’s around the world. By volunteering you learn about the culture, an understanding of issues, and the awareness of how your actions can influence people around the world. In this kind of travel you will challenge the pre-conceived ideas you have about other parts of the world.

But, be careful.  Although you will always learn something from travelling and volunteering, not all volunteer experiences are the same.

Voluntourism has become very popular.  It is expensive for the traveler and the experience may be limited. Limited in contact with the residents, and the time of the volunteer experience.

I do not want to imply that One! International is the only organization that will educate regarding Global Citizenship (certainly not true), however we do not advertise our volunteer opportunities on Volunteer web sites. Volunteers need to find us:  web page, through word of mouth. Organizations such as ACGC, etcetera.

Over the past 16 years, we have had over 200 volunteers from over 22 countries volunteer at the schools in India.  The age range from 9 years old as part of a family to 80 years old.

We have a minimum commitment of 2 months – learning for the volunteer and less disruption for the students and families.   First and foremost it is a job – 7-9 hours per day, 5 or 6 days a week.  However there are many holidays in India and there is opportunity to see ‘tourist’ things. Other travel can occur before or after the volunteer placement.

I guarantee you will fall in love with “our kids” and learn to be a global citizen.  Past volunteers tell us it was an experience that changed their lives and thinking.  Probably most important, they stay in touch with the organization.

Quote from a  recent volunteer ( 75yrs)

“…I am so happy I plunged into this venture and made some small contribution to this ever so worthy cause…- schools for the most underprivileged, endearing children, graduating students to better job prospects, hiring teachers, giving employment to women ( cleaning, cooking, child caring) who more often than not had histories of alcohol abuse, family violence, homelessness.  Children attended school, sporadically or faithfully, in all manner of dress.  It is a mystery to me how the older kids, and some teachers/staff, managed to be as neat and clean coming from homes/huts with no running water, no furniture, no space to store/hang clothing. …….[and they came] almost always with a smile.  They came to learn, to socialize, to eat ( and they were fed well at the school).  I will never forget the heaping platefuls some 8, 10, 12 year olds could put away, sometimes returning for seconds.  In all likelihood their only meal of the day.  One little 4 ( or 5 year old – hard to tell as they don’t always know their age and they are all smaller than normal) readily admitted she did not want to study, she came for the food.  She also came to all Saturday outings.  No TV and few toys at home for these kids.  I am so thankful I had the pleasure to share space and time with them; they are all ever so dear and my affection for them runs deep.

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Thank you for this opportunity.

I want to close with the following.

Tania Spilchen was 22 when she started One! International Poverty Relief. She has had an incredible influence over hundreds of children, their families, and volunteers from all over the world.  She has made a difference in the world and is a Global Citizen.

The theme of One! International is “Making a Difference One! Step at a Time. “

Always think and believe that you – perhaps not the same way as Tania- but you can make a difference.