GCC Hosts MEPI Students

Throughout July and August, Global Citizen Corps, in partnership with Portland State University, hosted a group of youth leaders through the ACT! Youth Leadership Program. Sponsored by the US Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), this program brought together 18 university-aged youth from across the Middle East and North Africa region to develop the tools and support systems to mobilize their home communities to create positive and constructive change.

The program culminated in a week-long field study at Mercy Corps’ office in Cambridge, MA. During this time, the students honed their individualized actions plans, as well as informal and formal presentations to Mercy Corps staff, a local youth organization, and a panel of experts at Harvard University. Beyond this, the students experienced the rich New England academic community, as well as the cultural history of the region and its civic significance in the U.S.  The skills, opportunities, and friendships gained through the program made the week in Boston and Cambridge a memorable experience for everyone, personally and culturally, as well as academically and professionally. 

As the youth leaders make the journey to their home countries, they return inspired with new knowledge and access to the GCC network of youth in their home countries and around the world, all of which will prove invaluable as they being the implementation process of their innovative action plans.

By the end of the trip, each leader had written, edited, and produced  a digital story detailing their experiences and takeaways. Here is an example by Nesrine from Tunisia!

Click here to see all of the projects!: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL063A4A62C73CA566&feature=mh_lolz