What is the Fellows program, or how do we create the leaders of tomorrow?
LearnServe International (LSI) trains high school students to create local solutions to global problems. Fellows meet once per week after school throughout the school year to learn from people engaged in these issues and ultimately to create their own “venture” to implement in their community (examples). We’ve developed this award-winning program in partnership with Ashoka/Youth Venture.
Three qualities make the Fellows Program successful—a school committed to internationalism/global awareness and encouraging future leaders, a faculty advisor who believes in the power of student led initiatives to serve a greater good and who provides the support and supervision, and the selection of student(s) with great entrepreneurial potential.
Why do schools participate?
- Turns students into social/global leaders
- Provides a model for replication in the school
- Strengthens your service learning and international awareness programs
- Generates a student-led initiative for your school’s community
- Connects the school to global issues, leaders and organizations
- Enhances the school’s reputation and recognition to serve others and promote global leadership
- Provides opportunities to participate in our summer Trips program
What is a school looking for in a faculty member as a Fellows’s advisor?
Teachers selected as LearnServe advisors:
- Are committed to changing and improving the lives of others
- Welcome the opportunity to meet other faculty with similar interests from across the region
- Believe in the potential of young people to lead social change efforts
- Are looking for professional and personal growth, and insights that will advance their schools
- Are willing to fulfill the following expectations of the program:
- Identify and recruit exceptional LSI Fellows program applicants in May preceding the program year
- Attend three 2-hour after-school meetings in September, January, and May
- Serve as an advisor to the Fellow(s) from his or her school by meeting periodically to review the program and venture planning
- Complete two surveys to measure the impact and success of the LSI Fellows program on the student and school.
If your school decides to participate, it will join a select group of schools from the District, Virginia, and Maryland, who promote global awareness and student leadership in their schools. Participant schools will be recognized in press releases, the student venture when launched at the school will bring focus to the school’s mission and the venture will serve a community need. But, none of this will work unless we select the students who want to make a difference in the world.
Who makes a good Fellow?
- Sophomores or juniors during their Fellows year
- Has a desire to make a difference in the world
- Can move others to take action, but with training could be more effective
- Is willing to accept the additional responsibilities of the Fellow’s program and will attend all meetings and fulfill all expectations of the program (see the past 08-09 calendar as an example)
- Has the determination to see things through
- Has parental support for participating in the Fellows program
What does the student gain from the Fellows year?
- Meets an eclectic mix of Fellows from across the DC region who share similar interests and passions
- Mentored by LSI to identify his/her passion and turn it into a socially driven student venture
- Develop cross-cultural communication abilities and business skills in planning, budgeting, and public relations
- Produces a social venture to implement at their school, with the satisfaction and recognition of accomplishment
- Learns directly from people who work on these issues day-in-and-day-out for organizations
- Gains an insight into a future career direction as a social and global leader
Learn more about LearnServe International, or contact us to find out how your school can be selected to participate in the 2009-10 program or for more information :
Hugh Riddleberger
director@learn-serve.org or 202-365-2890
