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<title>Seeding Social Innovation Archives - LearnServe International</title>
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<description>The world is small. Think Big.</description>
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<title>Zoom Across the World</title>
<link>https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zoom-across-the-world</link>
<comments>https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[learnserve]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:27:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Alumni]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Eastern High School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Abroad]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Fellows]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Paraguay]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seeding Social Innovation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Zambia]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://learn-serve.org/?p=13885</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>I traveled to Paraguay in 2017 with LearnServe Abroad, an experience that undeniably I will never forget. We did a homestay in Tobati for a […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/">Zoom Across the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>I traveled to Paraguay in 2017 with LearnServe Abroad, an experience that undeniably I will never forget. We did a homestay in Tobati for a week, and painted a huge mural for the daycare that provides free services for children whose parents could not afford paying for school. We planted trees because the community was telling us about the deforestation that they have. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" data-attachment-id="13886" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/35748531282_e6613eded2_c/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c.jpg" data-orig-size="800,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="35748531282_e6613eded2_c" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-400x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c.jpg" src="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13886" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c.jpg 800w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-400x300.jpg 400w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-768x576.jpg 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-230x173.jpg 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-350x263.jpg 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/35748531282_e6613eded2_c-480x360.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure>
<p>I learned Guarani, Paraguay’s indigenous language. I also experienced the city life and the rural life of living in Paraguay. As we lived with the families, we did culture exchange and learned about the indigenous population and how they are taught Guarani at home but Spanish at school. I was educated about the history of Paraguay and its wars with Brazil and Argentina. <strong>I had the opportunity to experience in person connecting, so the impact was very emotional and eye opening when it came time for us to return home.</strong> Changed the way I looked at my problems and privilege, which pushed me through to LearnServe Fellows.</p>
<p>Although I graduated from the LearnServe Fellows program in 2019, I was still able to stay in touch. This year, I was asked to participate as a judge in the Fellows virtual culminating pitch contest. The dedication and inspiration that the youth bring to the world is beyond life changing. If the LearnServe Fellows’ motivation and ventures don’t encourage you, maybe you need to answer the same question they do: what pisses you off? That might spark something for you too.</p>
<p>Now a season later, I’m 1 of 3 summer interns for LearnServe’s virtual exchange program with Zambia. Because of Covid-19, I was not able to physically step foot in Zambia, but I was able to Zoom there with the quickness of the internet. </p>
<p>And I was a little concerned about the virtual program. I questioned, how are the kids going to stay interested? How are they going to interact? Are they gonna show their faces to show that they are actively present? Are they going to stay mute the entire time? These worries were there especially because LearnServe has not had the pleasure of experiencing virtual traveling before. <strong>Connecting with the youth is important because everyone can identify a problem, but a problem comes with obstacles.</strong> And if there’s no one there to keep them striving and motivated then some would find no need to stay in the program. </p>
<p>Covid-19 only prevented physical traveling, not virtual traveling, and my cohort family can agree with me on that statement. Ryan and my cohort were known as The Influencers, it consisted of 4 Zambian students and 4 students from the United States. They all had two things in common; social change was a necessity within their community and the virtual abroad Zoom was a first-time experience collectively. </p>
<p>The importance of that is to say no one knew or could compare the outcome of this program to any other virtual abroad experience because neither group had gone through it. Therefore LearnServe was able to pivot from this new opportunity that technology provided them with becoming an online international program. LearnServe gave students the platform to say how they felt about the things that had pissed them off without negative connotations about their right to expression. <strong>I loved that the students in my cohort did not hesitate to give multiple things that they found to be a problem in their community, country, and even globally.</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="592" data-attachment-id="13887" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/screen-shot-2020-07-10-at-10-59-24-am/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM.png" data-orig-size="1440,832" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-519x300.png" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-1024x592.png" src="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-1024x592.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13887" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-1024x592.png 1024w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-519x300.png 519w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-768x444.png 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-830x480.png 830w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-230x133.png 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-350x202.png 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM-480x277.png 480w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-07-10-at-10.59.24-AM.png 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<p>The students were able to connect with each other on similarities that each country shared when it came to oppression of Black and Brown communities, racism, global warming, and waste. Although there were also differences that caused each country to have the opportunity to educate one another. Despite some discomfort, we strive to put students in the “Yellow Zone.” This is a place where the youth are pushed to the point where they’re uncomfortable but in a good way. It’s a technique that’s very useful when it comes to allowing the youth to teach and enlighten one another on certain topics.</p>
<p>Their problems vaguely listed were recycling, racism, effective communication, sexual and reproductive health, motivating mentors, education, food desert awareness, and changing school policies. These were the main focus of the students’ ventures in Ryan and my cohort. <strong>Within a month they were able to identify not only what pisses them off but the commonality of how all these problems can be tackled with the help of learning about social entrepreneurship.</strong> Mind blown was my first thought because the dedication and action that came from the past couple of weeks allows us to understand that even with a global pandemic going the students did not stop exploring their options.</p>
<p>Meetings were from 10am – 11:30 am and 16:00pm – 17:30pm Zambia time. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the students learned about social entrepreneurship, social change/impact, and Zambian and American culture. These lessons were needed in order for the students to be able to critically think about their MVPs (minimum viable products) before applying the lessons they learned to their pitches and ventures.</p>
<p>A quote from Ethel, a Zambian student who said <strong>“ LearnServe is helping me learn more about myself, my country, and the American people, and I am loving it.”</strong> The determination that the youth show while going through this summer virtual abroad program is beyond inspiring to the world and the generations to come about promoting and creating change. </p>
<p>The impact that students were able to have was eye opening because limitations were present and they were still able to reach out and network. Surrounding opportunities could help continue to push them to work on their ventures. The complexity of their problems and trying to come up with possible solutions exemplifies their commitment and passion.</p>
<p>They were able to accomplish the LearnServe virtual abroad program for many reasons. Education has no age, and the students who participated in this summer virtual abroad program showed me that. Guest speakers joined who participated within LearnServe when they were our age. They showed the youth that your venture can last for the rest of your life, and that was motivating. For some change can be hard and scary. <strong>But when there are people like you identifying ways to bring social change, the doubts like “this is too hard for me to do” can simply fade away. </strong>Inspiration from others can keep the passion going within.</p>
<p><strong>COVID-19 couldn’t stop the students from bringing about the change they want to see.</strong></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="783" data-attachment-id="13889" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/jayme-kabika-interview-screenshot/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot.png" data-orig-size="1539,1177" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-392x300.png" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-1024x783.png" src="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-1024x783.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13889" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-1024x783.png 1024w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-392x300.png 392w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-768x587.png 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-1536x1175.png 1536w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-830x635.png 830w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-230x176.png 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-350x268.png 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot-480x367.png 480w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2020/08/Jayme-Kabika-Interview-Screenshot.png 1539w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<p>I was able to interview and ask some students “what was something you wished LearnServe did to better improve for future virtual programs?” The most common answers were to provide more time during the group meetings and extend the program for longer than a month’s time. <strong>They wanted more time to continue to work on their ventures, which pushes my theory that their commitment was out of this world, astounding! </strong></p>
<p>LearnServe set the time for the Zoom, but the youth set the tone. Despite the fact that there’s a global pandemic going on, the youths’ determination and dedication to the program showed that there was a connection made through the screen and created a Zoom family!</p>
<p><strong>Jayme’ Mims </strong><br>LearnServe Summer Global Fellowship Intern 2020 <br>LearnServe Fellows 2019<br>LearnServe Paraguay 2017<br>Seeing Social Innovation, 2017</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2020/08/04/zoom-across-the-world/">Zoom Across the World</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">13885</post-id> </item>
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<title>LearnServe’s approach to Coronavirus</title>
<link>https://learn-serve.org/2020/03/10/learnserves-approach-to-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=learnserves-approach-to-coronavirus</link>
<comments>https://learn-serve.org/2020/03/10/learnserves-approach-to-coronavirus/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[sabine]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2020 16:09:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Announcement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Abroad: Teacher's Blog]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Fellows]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Volunteers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seeding Social Innovation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://learn-serve.org/?p=12897</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Dear LearnServe Abroad Students, Applicants, Families and Advisors, We are reaching out today with an update of LearnServe’s approach to the novel Coronavirus outbreaks. We are monitoring The Centers for Disease […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2020/03/10/learnserves-approach-to-coronavirus/">LearnServe’s approach to Coronavirus</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p> Dear LearnServe Abroad Students, Applicants, Families and Advisors,</p>
<p>We are reaching out today with an update of LearnServe’s approach to the novel Coronavirus outbreaks. We are monitoring <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Centers for Disease Control website</a> and
will be following CDC as well as WHO recommendations. We have been
reviewing and updating plans, staff, and students about prevention tips
from the CDC (shared below).</p>
<p>As
of today, the CDC has not issued any travel warnings for any of the
four countries LearnServe travelers will visit this summer: Jamaica,
Paraguay, South Africa and Zambia. As of now, we are planning to
conduct the trips as planned. We will continue to monitor travel alerts;
given the constantly evolving situation, we cannot rule out the
possibility of these trips being cancelled. You can find the CDC travel
alerts <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>, and will be in touch with regular updates as the situation evolves.<br></p>
<p>At
this point, we plan to proceed with our in-person LearnServe Abroad
meetings in DC as planned. Should the situation evolve in the greater
DC area, we will consider cancelling in-person meetings, and instead
offer virtual sessions via videoconferencing or phone. We are
considering a range of options, recognizing that families will have
different levels of ability to engage in online learning.</p>
<p>Expect
to receive regular communications from LearnServe about COVD-19 and our
evolving plans to keep our community safe and healthy. </p>
<p>Please let us know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>All the best,</p>
<p>Sabine and Scott</p>
<p><strong>Disease Prevention Tips from the CDC</strong></p>
<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Wash
your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or
sneezing, and certainly if your commute includes public transit.</li><li>If
soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and
water if your hands are visibly dirty.</li><li>Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.</li><li>Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.</li><li>Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.</li><li>Stay
home when sick. This is the most important measure our community
members can take to protect each other. Please be on the lookout for
symptoms such as fever, frequent coughing, body aches, and difficulty
breathing. If you observe such symptoms while at home, please do not
come to our programs. Contact your doctor.</li></ul>
<p>— <br>Sabine Keinath | Director and COO | She/Her/Hers<br>LearnServe International | <a href="http://learn-serve.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learn-serve.org</a><br>ph: +1 202 370-1865<br></p>
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/4L-h1fZsw52Pn8wEsCMJs3SiZ4z8xxRlotRLuG_C9PZoF_jTjGmZIXbIPmy3xcKPOcaIKtfUJA3rjhFFBN_43TmSEC2iEK2t1wLB5-k0OfWUJQXeZP6EfWGg3O3rkgv7Sb80ilbhg9PVrNRZHTDso1ACcdBskb7zVFfgn8iaKVdMQs-RVcVm2KCtAQPDJC2WbKT5xvggiC1SRlcukQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1BgEb1nKQOlb0cIGXy2njn01VFguHO7Lt&revid=0BzYQvJkCWGlwTlc2ei80TXdkQXFmUXNZeHR6TFV1bVZnVjRnPQ" alt="" width="132" height="150"/></figure>
<p>Featured in the 2019-20 Catalogue for Philanthropy.
“One of the best small charities in the Greater Washington region.”
</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2020/03/10/learnserves-approach-to-coronavirus/">LearnServe’s approach to Coronavirus</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12897</post-id> </item>
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<title>LearnServe & Social Entrepreneurship in Libya</title>
<link>https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya</link>
<comments>https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[learnserve]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:01:02 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Volunteers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seeding Social Innovation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Testimonials]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://learn-serve.org/?p=12606</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Social entrepreneurship is currently the biggest new brand in my home country, Libya. Many attempts have been made so far to establish a prosperous entrepreneurial […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/">LearnServe & Social Entrepreneurship in Libya</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Social entrepreneurship is currently the biggest new brand in my home country, Libya. Many attempts have been made so far to establish a prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs in Libya. However, we are still facing many challenges as the concept of social entrepreneurship is new. Based on the experience I gained from my fellowship with LearnServe and the Legacy Professional Fellows Program in the US, I will establish the foundation of a thriving ecosystem to teach young university graduates how to bring a sustainable change to their communities in Libya through social entrepreneurship. Our long-term goal is helping young people to be entrepreneurs, changemakers and forwarded-thinking citizens in Libyan society.</p>
<p>To me, international exchange is very important for social entrepreneurship because it gives entrepreneurs a good opportunity to network, share experiences and exchange ideas. International exchange is especially beneficial for entrepreneurs from developing countries because it is the means by which they develop their entrepreneurial mindset, experience new work models and gain exposure to new cultures. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1707" data-attachment-id="12607" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5.6","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 800D","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1573042909","copyright":"","focal_length":"40","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.016666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="49069391728_4c2ee68324_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-450x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-1024x683.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683" alt="" class="wp-image-12607" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-450x300.jpg 450w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-830x553.jpg 830w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-230x153.jpg 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-350x233.jpg 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-480x320.jpg 480w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/49069391728_4c2ee68324_o-272x182.jpg 272w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>
<p>My fellowship with LearnServe was one of the most fruitful opportunities for professional development I have ever had in my career. This opportunity made me reflect deeply on and adjust my understanding of social entrepreneurship. It has instilled in me a new entrepreneurial mindset that focuses on both bringing social change and making a profit. I have gained pertinent knowledge and skills in social entrepreneurship that will definitely help me develop my entrepreneurship programs and projects in Libya. </p>
<p>I also had the great opportunity to learn more about LearnServe’s “Seeding Social Innovation” program, which is a curriculum dedicated to teaching middle and high school students how to bring a social change to their communities through social entrepreneurship. That curriculum was very systematic and powerful, and it inspired me to start designing my own curriculum for an entrepreneurial program in Libya. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1080" data-attachment-id="12609" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,1080" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-400x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-1024x768.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o.jpg?fit=1024%2C768" alt="" class="wp-image-12609" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o.jpg 1440w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-400x300.jpg 400w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-768x576.jpg 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-830x623.jpg 830w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-230x173.jpg 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-350x263.jpg 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/75473955_3217183274975417_2522385961673818112_o-480x360.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></figure>
<p>All of the LearnServe activities I took part in, such as the LearnServe Hackathon, volunteer trainings, after-school sessions, sales meetings, community meetings, and mentoring sessions, provided me with hands-on skills that I really need for developing a strong entrepreneurial mindset. All in all, my fellowship with LearnServe was priceless and I really owe this opportunity to the LearnServe staff who were very helpful, cooperative and resourceful. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my supervisor in the fellowship Lauren Jordan for everything she did to support me. I would also like to express my gratitude to the US Department of State and Legacy International for hosting me in the Legacy Professional Fellows Program. </p>
<p>Hamza Muftah<br>Legacy Professional Fellow in Residence with LearnServe International</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/learnserve-social-entrepreneurship-in-libya/">LearnServe & Social Entrepreneurship in Libya</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12606</post-id> </item>
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<title>Travelers Who Change</title>
<link>https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=travelers-who-change</link>
<comments>https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[learnserve]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:27:49 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Announcement]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Abroad]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seeding Social Innovation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://learn-serve.org/?p=12600</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>I met Rahlek Mathias as a junior at Paul International HS when I was in my first year as the Strategic Programs Manager there. Rahlek […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/">Travelers Who Change</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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<p>I met Rahlek Mathias as a junior at Paul International HS when I was in my first year as the Strategic Programs Manager there. Rahlek was an avid athlete, and I noticed during our individual conversations that he also has a big heart for animals. I signed him up for the LearnServe Fellows program where he was able to develop his love for endangered species and create a social venture to support animals who are affected by natural disasters in developing nations. He passionately developed the topic into his senior capstone project. </p>
<p>Though the Fellows program sometimes interfered with his football and basketball practices, Rahlek made sure he could attend the Thursday sessions. He not only developed his ability to commit to the program, but also the confidence to network with peers from other schools and the professionals who reviewed his venture. Rahlek subsequently signed up for the LearnServe Abroad summer program to Jamaica with 5 other friends, his English teacher and the Dean of Students at Paul International HS. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="640" height="480" data-attachment-id="12602" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/42170925825_501f401091_z-1/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1.jpg" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="42170925825_501f401091_z-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1-400x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1.jpg" src="http://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12602" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1.jpg 640w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1-230x173.jpg 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1-350x263.jpg 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42170925825_501f401091_z-1-480x360.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure></div>
<p>Despite the challenges and newness of being abroad, Rahlek demonstrated grit and empathy as he worked with local organizations in Jamaica. He demonstrated that those who travel intentionally can truly develop the capacity to change and grow themselves, in addition to creating a positive impact on their local, national or international communities. </p>
<p>I used to be a LearnServe <a href="http://learn-serve.org/seedingsocialinnovation">Seeding Social Innovation</a> instructor at Paul International HS while teaching Spanish. After 8 years of teaching I moved into the role of Strategic Programs Manager. In additional to other responsibilities, I managed the international travel program and global curriculum for 9-12th grades. I implemented the SSI curricula for all 11th and 12th graders. For 2 years I was able to manage and reflect upon how the LearnServe method can reach more students across DC, Maryland and Virginia and how to update the curriculum to reach a more and more diverse pool of learners. </p>
<p>I currently work as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curriculum consultant for LearnServe, specifically for Seeding Social Innovation and LearnServe Abroad. The goal is to review current curricula and to create more alignment, engagement and inclusion in all workshops and sessions. I’m proud to bring my years of teaching and programs management to ensure that LearnServe has a well-aligned, engaging and relevant curriculum map. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1714" data-attachment-id="12603" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1714" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5.3","credit":"","camera":"NIKON D80","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1529771541","copyright":"","focal_length":"90","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.0125","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="42939765212_a7559d4b97_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-448x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-1024x685.jpg" src="https://i2.wp.com/learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C685" alt="" class="wp-image-12603" srcset="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-448x300.jpg 448w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-768x514.jpg 768w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-2048x1371.jpg 2048w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-830x556.jpg 830w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-230x154.jpg 230w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-350x234.jpg 350w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-480x321.jpg 480w, https://learn-serve.org/assets/2019/11/42939765212_a7559d4b97_o-272x182.jpg 272w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>
<p>The LearnServe Abroad theme “Travelers Who Change” was created and inspired by the need to have a growth mindset as a traveler. As LearnServe continues to bring together students from diverse backgrounds and take these young adults across borders, students will have many opportunities to challenge their own biases. They will also continue to develop their sense of self. I believe Travelers Who Change gives the organization a vision and common vocabulary to describe our aspiration to positively impact your local, national and international environments. As Travelers Who Change, we value building trust in ourselves and others, challenging implicit bias, and empowering youth to understand the power of their presence, voice and actions. </p>
<p>Global Education is no longer a luxury. LearnServe provides an opportunity for all students to feel relevant, celebrate diversity and learn beyond their immediate environment. Throughout the United States, in order to improve the quality of our educational system, we must recognize the 21st century skills that are necessary for our students to be prepared citizens. We want to prepare students for their future, not our reality!</p>
<p>Sherman Hughes<br>Curriculum Specialist<br>LearnServe International</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2019/11/21/travelers-who-change/">Travelers Who Change</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">12600</post-id> </item>
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<title>Volunteer Spotlight: Venture Consultant Erin Aucar</title>
<link>https://learn-serve.org/2018/09/12/volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar</link>
<comments>https://learn-serve.org/2018/09/12/volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[learnserve]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 2018 19:39:44 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[LearnServe Volunteers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Seeding Social Innovation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Testimonials]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://learn-serve.org/?p=11389</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Erin Aucar is the National Outreach Manager for Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) based in Arlington, VA. She serves as the young alumni coordinator and […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2018/09/12/volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar/">Volunteer Spotlight: Venture Consultant Erin Aucar</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="11390" data-permalink="https://learn-serve.org/2018/09/12/volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar/41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o/" data-orig-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2018/09/41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o.jpg" data-orig-size="1120,1680" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"ALEXANDRA WHITNEY PHOTOGRAPHY","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2018/09/41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o.jpg" data-large-file="https://learn-serve.org/assets/2018/09/41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o.jpg" class=" wp-image-11390 alignleft" src="http://learn-serve.org/assets/2018/09/41613740_1825544027501126_6132829908432322560_o.jpg" alt="" width="232" height="348" />Erin Aucar is the National Outreach Manager for <a href="https://amigosinternational.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS)</a> based in Arlington, VA. She serves as the young alumni coordinator and organizes the outreach strategy for the Regional Operations team at AMIGOS. Her goals for the year are to build partnerships for the Discover AMIGOS (for students 13-15-years-old) and AMIGOS Gap Year programs nationally.</p>
<p>Prior to AMIGOS, Erin studied Political Science and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She has held internships on Capitol Hill and the Department of Commerce, studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, and served in a variety of service-learning programs offered through Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns. She is passionate about youth leadership, global education, and service-learning.</p>
<p>We recently interviewed Erin about her experience volunteering as a <a href="http://learn-serve.org/assets/2018/09/2018-2019-Venture-Consultant-Overview.pdf">Venture Consultant</a> with LearnServe’s in-school Seeding Social Innovation program, and why she wants to spread the word about this opportunity. You can learn more about LearnServe volunteer opportunities at <a href="http://learn-serve.org/volunteers">learn-serve.org/volunteers</a>.</p>
<p><strong>What inspired you to volunteer with LearnServe?</strong></p>
<p>I get to promote AMIGOS and the power of youth leadership opportunities on a daily basis at my job, but working directly with students is always the most inspiring. I saw LearnServe as an important opportunity to be inspired continuously throughout the year, by having touch-points with high school students on a monthly basis. LearnServe’s mission is so closely aligned with that of AMIGOS that I knew it was a special program and an organization I would be passionate about serving!</p>
<p>Given that LearnServe students go through a very similar process of collaborative changemaking, I really hope that we can inspire more LearnServe alumni to also participate in an independent immersion program with AMIGOS! I know that LearnServe alumni would really thrive there.</p>
<p><strong>What was it like volunteering as a Venture Consultant?</strong></p>
<p>The ability to watch students progress through their project was really fun. Each month it was exciting to see what changes they had made or what roadblocks they had encountered. Sometimes they took our feedback skeptically and then after finding an obstacle realized for themselves that they needed to make a change. That is what experiential learning is all about! Overall, it was cool to see it in action.</p>
<p><strong>Could you share a particular story with us about an interaction with a student that made an impression on you?</strong></p>
<p>I have two!</p>
<p>One group went through many iterations of their initial idea to make an impact on childhood cancer by creating a fund at a local hospital to help families going through the experience. They kept running into issues and getting frustrated. It challenged me to really search my brain as well, and somewhere along the way I had a faint memory of a remembrance tree on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. I told them about it – and it worked! This ended up being the idea that they implemented, and I was excited to be able to take part in that brainstorming process with them.</p>
<p>Many of our visits involved giving feedback on the students’ pitches (the delivery as well as content). Near the end of the year, I had the chance to do presentations about AMIGOS in the Spanish classes at SSSAS, and two of the girls who I had mentored were in the first block. After I was done, they joked “OK! Now It’s time for us to give you feedback!” We both laughed and thought it was so funny. I was just glad that we were able to build that relationship.</p>
<p><strong>Who would you recommend volunteer with LearnServe?</strong></p>
<p>I would recommend this opportunity to anyone who believes in the importance of challenging young people to be the best that they can be. Students want permission to dream big and learn from the world, and LearnServe gives them the space to do that. I saw volunteering with LearnServe as a great professional development opportunity, and I was right. Anyone interested in social enterprise, youth, education, or mentorship should definitely make time for this.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://learn-serve.org/2018/09/12/volunteer-spotlight-venture-consultant-erin-aucar/">Volunteer Spotlight: Venture Consultant Erin Aucar</a> appeared first on <a href="https://learn-serve.org">LearnServe International</a>.</p>
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