November 13, 2015
Global Citizenship Curriculum Available
WeConnect: A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum was developed by University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development. The curriculum was designed for youth-serving organizations that are interested in incorporating cultural education, and engaging diverse audiences around the topic of global citizenship. WeConnect is a program model and curriculum designed to show youth that they are participants of a global society, inspiring a sense of understanding and confidence in relating and connecting to other people. The curriculum includes a coordinated series of experiential and interactive exercises that prepare youth to thrive in culturally diverse settings—whether these settings are part of their school day, home life, social life, or workplace—by giving them the opportunity to learn and use culturally responsive skills and knowledge. These skills are based on an international education approach, which is one specific form of cultural education that guides youth beyond knowing that they are citizens of the globe to an acknowledgement of their responsibilities to each other and the world around them.
The exercises are organized into four phases of building cultural knowledge and skills: Phase 1: Exploring, Phase 2: Stretching, Phase 3: Challenging, Phase 4: Connecting. WeConnect is designed for non-formal educational settings such as afterschool programs or clubs with middle school-aged youth (grades 6-8 and ages 11-14), but can be adapted to suit both younger and older age groups. WeConnect is now available to purchase at http://www.4-hmall.org/Product/newitems/weconnect-a-global-facilitator-guide/01501F.aspx.