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80Advancing Leadership for 80 Years Advancing Leadership for 80 Years 80World Learning Annual/Donor Report 2010–2011 3 World Learning’s Global Reach World Learning is a nonprofit organization that advances leadership through education, exchange, and development programs in more than 60 countries. World Learning field staff or offices in 2012 Programs, sub-recipients, participants’ home countries, practicum placements Welcome Letter from our President: Advancing Leadership for a Global Age s I crisscrossed the Each program: world during the past year, I observed World Learning n Uses time-tested models of advancing leadership. experiential education to design WeA are working with a rising and deliver life-changing programs. generation preparing them with the leadership skills, community-building n Teaches the next generation the skills tools, and cross-cultural understanding that are essential in a global age, they will need to address the critical an age in which problems are more global issues that will shape the 21st complex and require coordination century. This generation represents across many cultural, disciplinary, 50 percent of the world’s population. and political boundaries. I witnessed emerging leaders in rural n Empowers and educates individuals, schools in Ethiopia and at an intimate while also strengthening the gathering of Middle Eastern social innova- institutions that the next tors in Istanbul. I sat with SIT students in generation will depend upon. India discussing women’s empowerment, and I listened to returning Experimenters This year, World Learning marks its 80th talking about their new world views. Anniversary. We will celebrate in many Perhaps my proudest moment was venues and invite you to organize your watching one of our recent participants, own commemorative activities. a Vermont Experimenter, present Senator In this Annual Report, you will meet Patrick Leahy with our highest honor— forward-looking people who see the The World Learning Distinguished world both as it is and as it could be. Global Citizen Achievement Award. Over my eight years at World Learning, World Learning is advancing leadership I have been proud to work with them, and through our signature education, I am certain that their commitment to our exchange, and development programs: values and mission will continue long after The Experiment in International Living, I finish my tenure as president and CEO SIT Study Abroad, SIT Graduate Institute, of World Learning in June of 2013. International Honors Program, and our I hope that our story will inspire you to Washington, DC-based development encourage participation in World Learning and exchange programs. programs and provide essential support. All these programs share a common On behalf of the more than 1,000 World mission and core attributes that make Learning staff around the world in over them distinctly World Learning. 60 countries, we thank you. On our cover: Teens are inspired to make healthy choices through the Kapelako Project, a World Learning program in Angola that works to strengthen the ability of communities to develop Adam S. Weinberg and carry out HIV prevention. President/CEO World Learning World Learning’s Global Timeline Travel through time to explore the growth and global impact of World Learning programs. 1932 1934 1962 1964 An Idea Sargent Shriver Lighting the Undergrads is Born Joins The Way for SIT Go Global During the Great Experiment The Experiment The Cooperative Depression, Syracuse The 19-year-old has a provides the first Overseas Program, University Professor life-changing experience Peace Corps training, an Experiment/SIT Dr. Donald B. Watt on an Experiment. He leading to the pilot program for founds The Experi- later becomes a group development of university students, is ment in International leader and goes on School for an instant success. It Living as a way to improve cross-cultural to found the US International later paves the way for understanding. Peace Corps. Training (SIT) SIT Study Abroad. in 1964. We invite you to check out the full interactive global timeline by visiting http://timeline.worldlearning.org. Photos courtesy of World Learning Institutional Archives 2 World Learning Annual/Donor Report 2011–2012 Celebrating 80 years of Leadership 1932–2012 Years 801975 1992 2001 2010 Approaching New Name, Citizen IHP Development Global Scope Diplomacy Comparative Differently The organization World Learning Advantage The Experiment becomes World acquires exchange International Honors launches Projects Learning. The flag- provider Delphi Inter- Program is welcomed in Development and ship Experiment name national, leading to into the SIT Study Training, precursor is retained for summer a robust program of Abroad portfolio, offer- to International high school programs. academic and ing multiple-continent Development and professional comparative study Exchange programs. exchanges, including on social justice and the US State Depart- sustainability issues. ment’s International Visitor Leadership Program. World Learning Annual/Donor Report 2011–2012 3 The Experiment in International Living The Experiment’s three- to five-week summer programs immerse high school students in other cultures and languages in 30 countries throughout the world. Programs focused on arts, travel, language study, community service, culinary exploration, and ecology combine with homestays to create meaningful, dynamic experiences for students eager to challenge themselves and engage as global citizens. www.experimentinternational.org Clockwise from upper left: Experimenters make n Enrollment 2012 771 chocolate in France, explore the mountains n Programs offered 54 of Peru, and participate in community service n Countries with programs 30 projects in Tanzania and South Africa. n Scholarship recipients (2012) 416 4 World Learning Annual/Donor Report 2011–2012 Education Leadership: Outbound Ambassador Support Omiyinka Doris, Maputo, Mozambique Experimenter to Italy ’92; Group Leader, Italy ’97 n 1992, Omiyinka Doris travelled lived throughout the world, including to Italy for the first time as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Brazil. an Outbound Ambassador. Currently, she is living in Maputo, I“The premise of the program Mozambique. “Each time I am in a new is experiential learning. We toured cross-cultural experience, I still find myself Rome on our own using maps, our relying on many of the skills I developed wits, and rudimentary Italian, and in The Experiment,” Doris explains. discussed in depth how to bridge cultural differences in preparation Today, Doris is still closely tied to The for living with Italian families for three Experiment. “Tony [Allen, Experiment weeks,” says Doris. “Initially, I thought co-director] sends me some of his it would be difficult, but I quickly favorite student essays at the end of the learned how much I enjoy living summer each year,” she says. “It’s always outside of my comfort zone and wonderful to learn of their experiences, placing myself into situations that the things they’ve discovered, and both challenge me.” the fun they’ve had and the challenges they’ve faced.” Omiyinka Doris discovered a passion for “I also discovered that I am passionate languages and cultures as an Experimenter. about learning languages, understanding Each year she gives a gift to provide different cultures, and, most of all, about financial assistance to Experimenters. Italy,” she adds. Upon her return to the “I participated in The Experiment through “ Cross-cultural states, she continued learning Italian, an Outbound Ambassador Scholarship. teaching herself with a grammar book Now that I am in a position to help other experiences in order to stay in touch with her new students also have an experience that create openness Italian friends. When she was admitted to may not have otherwise been possible, Harvard, she studied Italian and spent her it’s very meaningful,” she explains. and understanding. junior fall semester abroad in Padova. “I know what an extraordinary impact I would encourage The summer after graduating, she led the program had on my life. Cross- an Experiment group in Italy. “It was an cultural experiences create openness everyone who incredible opportunity. It was great reliving and understanding. I would encourage a lot of my moments as an Experimenter everyone who feels as strongly as I feels as strongly with these 10 incredible students and do about The Experiment to give.” as I do about sharing some of my favorite places in Italy, as well as discovering new ones.” In 2012, 54 percent of Experimenters The Experiment students benefitted from Outbound to give.” Doris has continued to seek out Ambassador Scholarships. international opportunities and has World Learning Annual/Donor Report 2011–2012 5 SIT Study Abroad SIT Study Abroad provides undergraduates academically rich, semester, summer, and academic year programs in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, with opportunities for field research and International Honors Program comparative study. Students focus on a wide range of critical global issues, including post-conflict transformation, sustainable development, and global health. www.sit.edu/studyabroad n Enrollment 2011–12 2,215 n Programs offered 69 n Countries 48 n Faculty 105 n Number of colleges/universities represented 270 Clockwise from upper left: SIT Study Abroad program foci include the challenges of globalization in India and other countries; reconciliation in Rwanda; multiculturalism and social change in Bolivia, and critical
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