UN/DPI-NGO Annual 59th Conference
Midday NGO Workshop - 9 September 1006
Report from Mary to IAA

"Model Partnerships for Youth:  Education, Business and Technology Projects to Further Peace, Well-Being, Community Action and Resilience." Dr. Judy Kuriansky and the panelists of the Midday Workshop on September 8, 2006. Sponsored by the International Association of Applied Psychology Cosponsored with the International Association of Schools of Social Work, the NGO Committee on Mental Health, Light Millennium Inc, the World Council of Psychotherapy, the International Psychoanalytic Association.

Youth representatives described their projects, which included MIT students teaching computer science to high school students in the Middle East; college initiatives with an Alliance for Indigenous Nations in the Amazon supporting lifestyles consistent with UN-defined sustainability; and a partnership between a high school band and NGOs to raise money to build schools in Africa.

This workshop opened with a performance of a peace healing song co-written by IAAP representative Judy Kuriansky and Russell Daisey, who has performed for U.S. presidents and at worldwide peace concerts.  Panelists included:

1) Shahid Rashid, graduate student at the Sloan School of Management at MIT, described how Middle East Education through Technology (MEET) brought together Israeli and Palestinian high school students to learn computer science and business skills, sponsored by both educational institutions and technology companies.  Despite political tensions in the region, the project helps students to learn skills and learn to work collaboratively together.

2) Luke Taylor, 20 years old freshman at Stamford University, who works with the Alliance for Indigenous Nations, spoke of the time he had spent in the Amazon of Ecuador and Peru, and the importance of transformation within the self.  The goal is to change the dream of the modern world, to live abundantly and sustainably.  Elements in creating empowering youth alliances were presented. The key is to figure out what makes you come alive and go do it.

3) Warren Rosen, Vice Chairman, We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), described the work of the Foundation in producing educational tools and using media innovatively to give young people a fresh chance at building a global family.  In partnership with Building with Books, the Foundation has funded twelve We Are Family Schools in Mali, Africa, and Nicaragua.

4) Raechel Rosen, 17-year old high school student and founder of the teen band Creation, described how they donated 100% of the gross proceeds from their debut CD "World Without Windows" to WAFF's initiatives.  Creation also raised enough money to send 10 students from the US to Mali to help the villagers to build the school, thus establishing a valuable cultural exchange.

Discussants included Latoya Connor, who summarized her work with colleagues in the areas of global mental health: trauma and recovery (Italy), technology-based vocational training (Suriname, South America), and determinants of sexual health (Uganda, Africa); and Victoria Fan, a Harvard graduate student who described the work of the College Volunteer Division of the Tzu Chi Foundation, USA which works in hospitals and schools in China and other countries in the world.

The workshop concluded with a World Peace Prayer Ceremony, a moving ritual prayer occasionally performed by youth at the United Nations, for peace throughout the world. It involved the distribution of the World Peace Prayer Society flags and a collective prayer for partnerships of peace in countries throughout the world.

As moderator, Dr. Judy encouraged the audience to make connections with the panelist. It is the best kind of outcome of such a workshop to know that it makes a difference in the lives and work of the participants. It was rewarding to know this was the case.

For example, Shahid Rashid from MEET wrote, "Speaking at the UN NGO/DPI was a great experience for MEET.  the audience was very engaged during our presentation of our model in developing relationships among youth across cultural and political divides.  We received insightful feedback on both our instructional model and our growth plans.  The general enthusiasm for our initiative from the group was very inspiring as well.  One of the new initiatives MEET is beginning to undertake is an evaluation of the applicability of our model and curriculum in other locales, both for bridging cultural divides and in empowering less-privileged youth.  The audience and other panelists were very interested in these plans and we have made some contacts for possible initial guidance and/or collaboration."