Reactions to Our Programs
The United Nations Experience - Program Reflections
For the past number of months we at the Partnership for Global Justice have been evaluating and exploring ways to find out the impact of the UN experience for those who come to the Partnership seminars and workshops.
This is what they said:
A student from Loreto Abbey in Toronto said that as a result of the 3 - day workshop he was "forever changed"and the concept of being a Global Citizen was both challenging and inspirational. As a direct result of the experience he had formed a group to link with a project in India for clean water.
Another student from another school in Toronto was particularly moved by the workshop on Human Trafficking and has since been in touch with the presenter for her PowerPoint and ways that she in her local area can track, monitor and highlight this modern day slavery scourge. The student concerned is involved in educating others about trafficking especially as it pertains to Canada.
A higher education student from Dublin, Ireland who is completing his Masters studies at the All Hallows' Institute was so challenged and moved by the experience that he has since set up a UN model experience and has many people now on board to look at empowerment at the grass-roots level. He was particularly moved to learn about some of our education projects and how $50 in some countries can provide a poor child with schooling for one year. He has raised money to provide education for 7 girls in Sudan.
A student from The Richard Stockton College of NJ who came with her classmates to a UN orientation provided by the Partnership wrote:
"The UN experience was a highlight for me. Here we were at one of the most important landmarks in international politics, learning about how this complex organizations works and how we as Global Citizens must play our part.
The seminar on Sustainability was mind-blowing. The presenter - Sister CJ Willie gave us practical examples on the Cow on a Loan has changed lives in rural Africa.
I consider the UN experience to be one of the most important and challenging experience that I am having as a student at Stockton College. As a result I have joined Go Global and take a keen interest in world affairs beyond the USA.
A student from a college in Pennsylvania studying international law first learned about the UN in hearing the executive director of PGJ give a keynote address at her school.
As result of that experience and her subsequent decision to study international law she became involved and actually spearheaded the building of a school in Cambodia. "What happens to girls worldwide matters and I will do what I can to stand up and speak out".
On November 13, 2013 I had a most incredible opportunity to listen to and learn from professionals who work at the United Nations. While the early wake up to go to New York and the UN was not something I was looking forward to, little did I realize that I could learn and experience so much! The UN's main objective is to solve global challenges and I too want to be part of the generation who will rise to the challenge of fixing our world.
For the past number of months we at the Partnership for Global Justice have been evaluating and exploring ways to find out the impact of the UN experience for those who come to the Partnership seminars and workshops.
This is what they said:
A student from Loreto Abbey in Toronto said that as a result of the 3 - day workshop he was "forever changed"and the concept of being a Global Citizen was both challenging and inspirational. As a direct result of the experience he had formed a group to link with a project in India for clean water.
Another student from another school in Toronto was particularly moved by the workshop on Human Trafficking and has since been in touch with the presenter for her PowerPoint and ways that she in her local area can track, monitor and highlight this modern day slavery scourge. The student concerned is involved in educating others about trafficking especially as it pertains to Canada.
A higher education student from Dublin, Ireland who is completing his Masters studies at the All Hallows' Institute was so challenged and moved by the experience that he has since set up a UN model experience and has many people now on board to look at empowerment at the grass-roots level. He was particularly moved to learn about some of our education projects and how $50 in some countries can provide a poor child with schooling for one year. He has raised money to provide education for 7 girls in Sudan.
A student from The Richard Stockton College of NJ who came with her classmates to a UN orientation provided by the Partnership wrote:
"The UN experience was a highlight for me. Here we were at one of the most important landmarks in international politics, learning about how this complex organizations works and how we as Global Citizens must play our part.
The seminar on Sustainability was mind-blowing. The presenter - Sister CJ Willie gave us practical examples on the Cow on a Loan has changed lives in rural Africa.
I consider the UN experience to be one of the most important and challenging experience that I am having as a student at Stockton College. As a result I have joined Go Global and take a keen interest in world affairs beyond the USA.
A student from a college in Pennsylvania studying international law first learned about the UN in hearing the executive director of PGJ give a keynote address at her school.
As result of that experience and her subsequent decision to study international law she became involved and actually spearheaded the building of a school in Cambodia. "What happens to girls worldwide matters and I will do what I can to stand up and speak out".
On November 13, 2013 I had a most incredible opportunity to listen to and learn from professionals who work at the United Nations. While the early wake up to go to New York and the UN was not something I was looking forward to, little did I realize that I could learn and experience so much! The UN's main objective is to solve global challenges and I too want to be part of the generation who will rise to the challenge of fixing our world.
LORETTO SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS EXCURSION
PARTNERSHIP FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
STUDENT REACTIONS:
Andrej Janda:
For me this trip has been my first time to the United States and I cannot imagine a better way to see the US for the first time. I was really overwhelmed with the size of the city and the density of the people in it. Of course we didn’t come just to see New York, we came to visit the UN headquarters. Seeing the UN first hand was special to me because I have been doing Model United Nations for quite some time now and it was really exciting to see the rooms where what we are trying to recreate is actually happening. It was overwhelming for me when we entered the council rooms and I thought about all the important people who have stood in the same room as me and I thought about all the important decisions that were made in these rooms that have affected so many people worldwide. It was inspirational to think that we are doing the same thing at home except the consequences of our decisions are nowhere near as great.
The lectures were particularly interesting because people who are actively participating in the issues and have firsthand experience in countries dealing with these conflicts presented them. Seeing the UNICEF building was touching for me on a really personal level because I remember as a little kid, I would walk around with my little UNICEF donation box and go door to door with my parents trying to raise money for their food programs. That’s why I was so excited to see firsthand the organization that I was supporting and models of their school in a box program and their food cup program.
Out of all the presentations, I think the most influential one was the presentation on human trafficking. The fact that this form of modern slavery is still exists and that it’s so difficult to prosecute is unnerving. I was especially disturbed by her story about the woman from China who went on what she thought was a holiday but later her body was found with no organs in it.
This is a trip that I will not forget for a very long time. It has reminded me that even though we are just kids, we still have to power to have a serious impact on the world around us. It has also reminded me about my responsibility as a global citizen to try and help those who are in desperate need of it.
Kassandra Neranjan
Can one put into words the experience of being changed forever over the course of 5 days? One can try; succeeding however would be a separate issue.
The voyage into the midst of a revolution of change I have embarked upon began with a venture to the United Nations Headquarters in New York. I filled my mind with substantial knowledge of various important and pending to be addressed dilemmas the global society faces such as human trafficking and sustainable development. Stories were shared and held on to. Opinions were expressed and countered. Invaluable knowledge was sought, shared and gained.
The sisters of Loretto who established this amazing expedition were more than welcoming and allowed us to reach our full potential exposing us to all ideals, political views, and truths that many wish to lay away in the shadows. These courageous women, in the very image of Mary Ward taught with the reminder that the students they were addressing are the future change makers for their world. Of much more significance, these women went out of their way for my peers and I to experience the International Day of the Girl Child at Unicef. We were privileged to be in the midst of various female innovators from around the world working to promote better livelihoods for women everywhere.
These 5 days have been truly inspiring.
As a Catholic global citizen, never have I felt my calling so strong to step out onto the fresh soil beneath me and work to make a brighter day and more so a promising tomorrow. My journey is just beginning as the sails are to be adjusted but the destination is clear and the course is set. It will be a tough journey with many obstacles in the way. But in light of Mary Ward’s teachings and the lessons taught through this immeasurably valuable travel, nothing can stop me from attaining the world that I wish to see come alive.
My limitless gratefulness to the Mary Ward Centre, all staff, and all Loretto Sisters who helped make this trip possible.
Stephanie Spagnuolo
My reaction:
Being chosen for the UN trip was an accomplishment in itself, personally I felt so excited and blessed to have the chance to have this experience. Incredibly, the trip exceeded my utmost expectations. Learning from the Sisters at the UN was amazing. Seeing such powerful women in prestigious positions, working for the betterment of humanity and world was truly inspiring. I felt empowered simply by learning from them, that I too could be as essential in the process of making a difference in our world. Before the trip I was doubtful in the UN’s efforts to reach the Millennium Goals, from where I stood I saw no visible change. However my perspective drastically changed through my learning on this trip, the goals seemed more and more reachable. Learning in the Canadian Embassy and with the speakers was fascinating and helpful when brainstorming a following action plan. I’d like to bring to my school the information the UN and has taught me and the programs we learned about (lap desks, cow project etc.) in hopes that my school will part-take in one of these types of fundraising endeavors, or something similar. I would suggest this trip to anyone as it truly brought a new perspective to me and overall was an excellent experience.