After months of communicating through IVECA’s online exchange platform, students from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, New York and Noeun High School in Daejeon, South Korea met face to face in a virtual conference, celebrating their global friendship and collaboration. With excited smiles and eager waves to one another, the students and their teachers embarked on the final leg of their IVECA journey by sharing their research, insights and solutions for Challenges in Our Countries.
Throughout their exchange, the students engaged in collaborative research in their classrooms focused on identifying and addressing cross-sector problems in their countries. By focusing on how global issues impact local communities, students used Sustainable Development Goals to reflect on topics such as water and environmental pollution, social inequalities, and renewable energy.
Students joining from New York shared their personal experiences of working together to protect and improve their local environment. By witnessing the damage caused by improper waste disposal and lack of recycling efforts in their local town, students were inspired to take action by participating in local river clean-up programs and spreading awareness in their area under the guidance of their teachers Ms. Watson and Ms. Thomas. Through regularly taking part in river garbage collection and environmental activism, Alexander Hamilton students demonstrate how young people can make a difference. Students proposed solutions to the water pollution and waste disposal that were varied and inspired. From creating garbage patrol officer routes and developing pollution reporting apps, to working with local organizations and investing in waste processing robotics, the US students were unified in their determination. “One in three people on earth do not have access to clean water,” shared one student. “Our generation can change this!”
Korean students also shared the passionate dedication for inspiring peers in their country, diving into interconnected challenges and cross-sector solutions. Exploring multiple issues in their regions, the students also emphasized the need for more proactive participation in creating solutions. One group explored the significance of renewable energy, explaining that reducing the cost of sustainable energy resources is essential. Other students shared their research on equality in employment fields and the impact it has on economic growth as well as the social inequities felt throughout their local and national communities. Korean students demonstrated the undeniable connections between each of these issues and the significant roles they all play in achieving the UN SDGs. Guided by their teacher, Ms. Yi, Korean students shared impactful and actionable solutions which have the potential to create a better future for all.
Reflecting on each other’s research and innovative solutions, students shared a sense of unity across countries. Korean students noted the similarities between the two schools’ aspirations. “The solutions we shared [are different] but the commonalities are community participation and collaboration.” Perfectly summarizing how all felt by the session’s end, one US student wished her partners farewell, “Connecting with all of you helped us grow as individuals, which made us more understanding and more prepared for our future.”
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