When you think about challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, young people may not be at the top of your list.

“My interaction with Zeinab was extraordinary. She became a full member of our team within one day of coming on board, and then went on to challenge and even lead us in a wide range of ways throughout her time with us.  There was a real spark of mutual inspiration and learning” 

Last year I was lucky enough to be selected to take part in a Social Cohesion Exchange programme between the UK and United States. The programme enabled me to learn from US community organisers and practitioners to develop a own social action project once I returned to the UK.

October 11 is recognized by the United Nations as International Day of the Girl.

The theme for 2018 is With Her: A Skilled GirlForce.

For a second year, from July 29 – August 12, 2018, Legacy International welcomed 12 young people (ages 16-18) from the U.K. for a two-week cultural exchange program in the U.S. focused on combating divisiveness in communities and building social cohesion.

“The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people.” – Kailash Satyarthi

Today is World Youth Skills Day! #WYSD. Young people are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and continuously exposed to lower quality of jobs, greater labor market inequalities, and longer and more insecure school-to-work transitions. That is why education and training are key determinants of success in the labor market.

Read the latests updates from TechGirls and see how they are Creating A Legacy in their communities. 

Last month our #EYLeaders took time out to do some amazing work with the land at Community First Village, an organization that does great work with low-income and displaced people in Austin, TX.

Twice a year as part of the Professional Fellows Program the Department of State selects alumni from around the world to honor as Alumni Impact Award winners. Legacy is pleased to announce that one of the awardees this spring is Dana Mekler who participated as a fellowship host and outbound traveler Dana for the Professional Fellows Program. 

On Friday, May 18, 2018 we said goodbye to a long-time friend of Legacy International and the Global Youth Village: Linda Lewis Ingram, who passed away in her home surrounded by friends.

The latest blog post from Legacy’s education consultant and Advisory Board member on her blog: Education, From Inside and Outside

From 1985 – 19889 Legacy International offered a series of presentations and discussions on interfaith understanding, regional conflicts, and environmentally sustainable development known as the Global Viewpoints Forum. As part of Legacy’s 40th anniversary celebrations, we are happy to announce the return of the Global Viewpoints Forum.

This week we kicked off the 2018 Emerging Young Leaders program. For the past two years the State Department has chosen to honor ten young people from around the world for the amazing work that they have done in their home countries.

Social status is a fraught topic for humans. We each seek some assurance that we have sufficient social power to be respected. The dilemma of social status begins early in life, but becomes acute with the onset of puberty, as children begin to see themselves as individuals separate from their parents.

Once in a generation a true and momentous revolution, in the full sense of the word, can take place in America… when people with bravery and hope, who truly believe in their message, stand up in protest of injustice and inequality. In the 1910’s, it was about women’s suffrage. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, it was about civil rights and equality for all. Now, in 2018, it’s about eradicating gun violence in communities across the nation.

What is the best way to create an inclusive school culture? How can a school leader promote a feeling of belonging for everyone in that school community: from the dyslexic second grader to the sole African-American in sixth grade, from the student whose parents speak Chinese at home to the divorced teacher trying to raise three children on one teacher’s salary, from the part-time worker in the cafeteria who struggles to pay his bills and has to work two jobs to do so to the elegantly dressed tutor who can afford to work part-time? Each child and adult in a school community has a different story to tell. Each one longs for connection, validation, affirmation.

Teachers who grew up and began teaching as members of the dominant American culture may have an idea that students should respect them simply because they are teachers, and “teachers deserve respect.”

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Every summer, at Legacy’s Global Youth Village, teenage men and women, take an honest look at gender norms and stereotypes across many cultures.  The overwhelming realization is that women are vital to building strong resilient communities.  Providing access to education, employment and leadership positions leads to healthier economies and helpful citizen engagement.