Global Kids addresses three urgent and specific needs:

• New York City public school students possess a range of assets – including foreign languages, cross-cultural communication skills, and a first-hand understanding of global trends and events – that are in demand from business, government, and nonprofit institutions – but are not nurtured or cultivated in the current educational curriculum.
• Urban public schools – too frequently – fail to engage students in the learning process, develop sophisticated skills, or educate them about international relations, global health, sustainability, development, and other issues facing the United States and the world.
• Since September 2001, the American people and our leaders have come to realize that a lack of knowledge about other countries and global issues seriously impedes our capacity to assure a secure and sustainable future.