The U.S. in the World Summer Institute, a three-week intensive summer program, provided 26 New York City high school students the opportunity to learn about and address issues at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy making and implementation. The Summer Institute experience seeks to establish a network of youth who are informed about critical foreign policy issues, committed to global engagement, and skilled in creating and leading discussions and other activities for the larger youth community. 

During the three weeks, students had the opportunity to engage with many guest speakers, including C.F.R. fellows, U.N. officials, a survivor of the Sierra Leone conflict, and former speechwriter to President Kennedy, Ted Sorenson. Journalist Brian Palmer was impressed with the students' interactions. “Pound for pound, you guys ask the most thoughtful questions of any group I speak to. That’s a big deal! I speak to college kids, media people, and even politicians, but I guess you Global Kids are something special.”
       
Students also participated in field trips to the UN Headquarters, Ellis Island, and a memorable trip to the Greentree Estate in Manhasset, New York, where students were able to discuss global issues at the same table where world leaders and diplomats negotiated peace agreements in the past.

This year’s program featured a videoconference with students in Khannaqhin, Iraq through a partnership with Global Nomads. Participant Mubeen Iqbal was moved by the experience. “This gives me so much hope for the future. No matter what the current generation does, our generations will be able to fix these problems.”

Fourteen educational workshops were presented to students by Global Kids staff. These workshops encouraged active participation involving discussions, debates, simulations, group-work, policy creation, allowing students to critically analyze global issues. Fostering debate in unique and creative ways, the workshops helped students create and solidify their own opinions and also created a safe space for students to discuss ideas with their peers. 


Students were able to learn about and discuss pertinent global issues, build their interest in pursuing international affairs as a major or career, create a network of like-minded peers, and more importantly, were encouraged to take action and make a positive impact on their community. Following this intensive experience, each student will complete a peer education project by presenting a U.S. policy issue of interest to his or her peers. Project proposal titles include The Role of the U.S. in Addressing Climate Change, The Global Financial Crisis, and The Genocide in Darfur and the Responsibility to Protect. Youth empowerment was visibly manifested in these students through Global Kids' U.S. in the World 2009 Summer Institute.