Global Youth Village Workshop

Looking to develop your international appeal, or want an exciting professional development opportunity?

Then join our international staff team at the Global Youth Village. Every summer since 1979, a dynamic learning environment is created that emphasizes experiential learning and challenges young people to turn cross-cultural theory and skills into practical action. This year 60 teens from around the world will participate. Workshops address issues concerning young people today, such as war and peace, distribution of world resources, prejudice, and the effects of social pressures. Cultural programming and cooperative living help participants learn to respect differences and discover similarities that transcend cultural, religious, political, and language barriers.

Positions are open for teachers / trainers. The Global Youth Village workshop staff are experienced teachers or facilitators. During Session 1, workshops meet for the entire 3-week session (approximately 13 teaching days), 2-3 hours per day. During Session 2, there are 6 teaching days, about 1-2 hrs each day.) Applicants are expected to have previous professional teaching experience in the workshop / topic area applied for. Experience in curriculum design, experiential training methods, and working with multicultural groups is also preferable.

Faith & Politics:Facilitate youths in a close examination of the basis of faith and politics, and how they have been either intertwined or separated historically. Look critically at recent world events while challenging young people to broaden their perspectives and seek applications in their personal lives. Facile knowledge of historical and contemporary issues, and different religious perspectives is required. Must also have proven collaborative ability.

Mass Media & You: How does the mass media shape the way we see the world? This workshop emphasizes the political, social, and economic implications of an increasingly globalized mass media and stresses the importance of using media effectively and wisely. Guide youths in a study of media content and how to create their own effective media messages. Explore ways in which media might be interpreted differently by people from different cultures and backgrounds. Guide youths in developing an awareness of issues of credibility and bias in the media, and how to identify flawed beliefs about a topic fostered by media content which presents false or misleading information. Teach youths how to use media to connect with people in their communities.

Green Your World: Guide youths through an exploration of the natural world and the complex issues facing global ecosystems. Inspire them to incorporate sustainable living practices into their daily lives. Explore such key concepts as eco-tourism, permaculture, fair trade, green building, organic agriculture and renewable energy. Engage youths through experiential learning techniques. Guide youths as they devise action plans to apply in their families and schools. Facile knowledge of a broad range of environmental issues from varied perspectives is required.

Dialogue & Peace Building: Provide a personal exploration of conflict, prejudice, and discrimination for youths from a variety of background and cultures. This workshop includes practical training in conflict management and leadership skills, as well as an exploration of prejudice and ethnic conflicts. Professional skills and experience are required in facilitation, group dynamics, conflict resolution, prejudice reduction, and methods of training in the value of diversity.

Arabic Language & Culture: Provide 25 hours beginning level instruction in Modern Standard Arabic. Give youths a taste of Arab culture around the world. Stimulate their interest in further study and in the potential for exciting career and international study opportunities. Applicants must be fluent in Arabic, with previous classroom teaching experience.

Global Issues: Engage youths in an active exploration of international relations, discussing issues such as human rights, regionalism, and political economy. Applicants should have a professional background in international relations or political science. Facile knowledge of historical and contemporary issues and their varied social and political interpretations is required.

Dates: June 24 – July 29 or August 12, 2008. Positions are residential and include housing and meals plus $1200 - $1700 salary, depending on length of employment. Other positions are also open for live-in cabin counselors/program specialists (arts & crafts, rock climbing, pool lifeguarding, leadership project facilitation), health care and kitchen staff.

Visit our website at http://www.globalyouthvillage.org to read more and apply. Contact Leila Baz, Staff Director if you have further questions. Email: Staff@legacyintl.org; tel: 540 297 5982; fax: 540 297 1860