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San Diego Diplomacy Council
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Board
    • Annual Reports
  • What We Do
    • International Visitor Leadership Program
    • Custom Programs & Services
    • Youth Programs
    • Citizen Diplomacy Excursions
    • Local Events
  • Our Partners
  • News
  • Get Involved
  • Donate

Global Leadership Youth Program – Summer 2022

The Global Leadership Youth Program (GLYP) has concluded for another year. Want to receive updates for future youth programs? Subscribe to The Messenger, our newsletter for youth!

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Of Poaching, Profits and Pangolins: International Wildlife Trafficking

Of Poaching, Profits and Pangolins: International Wildlife Trafficking

Introduction to International Relations

 

 

Introduction to International Relations

Pandemic Diplomacy: Infectious Disease as a Global Challenge

Pandemic Diplomacy: Infectious Disease as a Global Challenge

From Discrimination to Genocide: Racism & Systemic Inequality

From Discrimination to Genocide: Racism & Systemic Inequality

Climate Action: How to Keep 1.5 Alive

 

 

Climate Action: How to Keep 1.5 Alive

Back by popular demand for a third consecutive year, GLYP Summer 2022 ran from late-June to the end of July in week-long modules. While preserving the most-loved components of past GLYP iterations, this summer’s program featured some exciting innovations: a module exclusively for Middle School students; a for-credit option for High School students completing the 4-module High School-level series; and the flexibility for students to attend either in-person or online. That’s right, GLYP was available in-person on the La Jolla Country Day School campus!

With our unique itinerary of guest speakers, diplomacy simulations, group projects and supporting cultural enrichment activities, this program is ideal for teens and pre-teens looking to increase their cultural understanding and global acumen, while building their resumes and connections with other students. 

GLYP Summer sessions are held weekday mornings from 8:30-11:30am Pacific Time, and are open to High School or Middle School students in the U.S. and abroad according to the below schedule. High school students may register for one or more modules as suits their interests and availability.

Per Student Cost

Not-for-credit: $510 per module 

For-credit: $2160 for all four modules*

Middle School Module: $408

Sponsorships are available!  SDDC strives to bring diverse cohorts of students together for each module of this program, and recognizes that cost should never be a barrier to participation in our programs. Thanks to our generous supporters and sponsors, we are pleased to offer sponsorships for San Diego-area students in need of financial assistance and/or who are underrepresented/underserved in their community. 
Both paid and sponsored positions are limited, so register today!
*For-credit is only available for high school students

Middle School (entering grades 6-8):

June 21-24
Of Poaching, Profits and Pangolins: International Wildlife Trafficking
As many as 200,000 pangolins are illegally poached every year, making them the most trafficked animal in the world. But the problem doesn’t stop there. An unprecedented surge in the trafficking of wildlife threatens both global security and decades of conservation gains. As with illegal drugs and arms, dangerous international networks smuggle wildlife and animal products across borders, a trade valued at billions of dollars according to the United Nations and the World Wildlife Fund. In this module, students will learn about the tragic dynamics of the global exploitation and suffering of animals for profit and how international cooperation can be deployed to stop the traffickers in their tracks.

High School (entering grades 9-12)*:

June 27-July 1
Introduction to International Relations
One-time National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski once remarked that “a great deal of world politics is a fundamental struggle, but it is also a struggle that has to be waged intelligently.” From growing up in pre-World War II Poland to his accession as the U.S. President’s top advisor on threats to international peace, Dr. Brzezinski’s observation comes with the authority of one who witnessed the results of military conflict from the personal and global perspective. This module will provide students with an understanding of global interactions between actors with different interests and ideas, and it will examine the importance of international diplomacy in maintaining peace under the threat of war. Students will be challenged with a conflict resolution simulation concerning a nuclear proliferation crisis.  

July 11-15
Pandemic Diplomacy: Infectious Disease as a Global Challenge
Over the past two years, the risks, costs and challenges of infectious disease have become clear: such diseases and viruses are a threat not only to individual countries but to the international community. As we have seen, an epidemic has the potential to spread across countries, continents and even worldwide, affecting every corner of the earth. Preventing the spread of outbreaks and providing access to vaccines and treatments necessitate international cooperation and coordination on a global scale. This session will examine how the international community has responded to the rise of the current COVID-19 pandemic as well as other global epidemics of the past century. 

July 18-22
From Discrimination to Genocide: Racism & Systemic Inequality
The events of 2020 ushered in a racial reckoning across the globe. Black Lives Matter marches have drawn millions of demonstrators worldwide, protesting against the pervasive racial injustices that plague our societies. In many countries, structural discrimination and the legacies of slavery continue to blight the lives of minorities, while hate speech and hate crimes are on the rise. And as history show us, when these currents aren’t opposed, governments can turn to genocide or ethnic cleansing as a way to unify and mobilize their supporters. This session will explore the destructive effects of racism and systemic inequality in the U.S. and abroad as well as how governments and citizens can combat these injustices. 

July 25-29
Climate Action: How to Keep 1.5 Alive
Since 1995, global leaders have met 26 times in an attempt to mitigate climate change. While some are lauding the global dedication to sustainable progress and longevity of the planet, others are lamenting the lack of aggressive goals and universal commitments. On the road to COP 27, three things are clear: first, change is non-negotiable. Second, action needs to be taken--and fast--to keep the promise alive of limiting global warming temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Third, the planet's biggest advocates are not members of parliament, cabinet leaders or CEOs; they are sitting in classrooms around the world. In this module, students will learn about the important role we all have to play in ensuring a healthy planet. Greta Thunberg has made the stakes very clear to all of us: “You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option.”

*The for-credit option requires the successful completion of all four High School-level modules plus additional asynchronous course-work, and is contingent on approval from the student’s home school.

Is this the first you’re hearing about SDDC’s student programs? Find out more about some of our past successful programs here, here, and here.

Thank you to our partners at La Jolla Country Day School for your ongoing support, and enabling us to implement the Global Leadership Youth Program.

LJCDS Web 500 X2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Global Leadership Youth Program (GLYP)? Expand

GLYP is an interactive, interdisciplinary educational enrichment course that introduces teens and pre-teens to international affairs and diplomacy. The program is organized into week-long modules that each examine a timely global topic. In each module, students participate in a student-led diplomacy simulation, a collaborative group research project, cultural activities, and engage with an impressive roster of expert guest speakers. Through their participation in the course, students develop negotiation and leadership skills; gain a nuanced understanding of an important global topic; increase their international awareness and cultural understanding; and connect with their peers across San Diego, the U.S., and abroad. Upon successful completion of each module, students earn a digital badge and Certificate of Excellence in Global Citizenship. 

Who can participate in this program? Expand

This program is open to Middle School and High School students in the U.S. and abroad, with specific modules available to specific grade ranges. Our first module of the summer, to be held June 21-24, is open to Middle School students, who will be entering 6th - 8th grade in the 2022-2023 academic year. The other four modules, to be held June 27-July 1 & July 11-29, are open to High School students who will be entering 9th - 12th grade in the 2022-2023 academic year. 

Can my Middle School student attend the High School-level modules? Expand

The course curriculum of the High School modules is specifically geared toward the academic capabilities of 9th through 12th graders. However, we do allow for some exceptions. In past programs, we have had a handful of advanced Middle School students successfully participate in the High School-level modules. Ultimately, we defer to parents, who know their kids best, as to whether they believe their student will be ready for and successful in our High School-level modules. 

Where does the program take place? Can I still participate online? Expand

Students will have the option to participate in the program either in-person or online. At the time of registration, students must choose one as their main mode of attendance, as spaces for each are limited. For those attending in-person, class will be held on the La Jolla Country Day School (LJCDS) campus, located at 9490 Genesee Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037. For those participating online, class will be held simultaneously on Zoom. Online and in-person students will be integrated into a single class/cohort each week so that content and participation opportunities are the same for both online and in-person learners. We will have course facilitators participating both in-person and online to ensure an inclusive and consistent experience across both modes. 

What are the safety protocols for attending GLYP in-person at LJCDS? Expand

LJCDS strongly recommends vaccination and (as age appropriate) a booster for students participating in the program in-person. There will be a testing requirement for unvaccinated individuals to participate in-person. It is expected that everyone participating in person will be required to wear a mask at all times while on campus, except when eating or drinking, and adhere to relevant spacing protocols. Safety protocols are subject to change based on evolving state and local requirements and guidelines. 

Because class will be held in-person and online simultaneously, if a student who is registered for in-person participation becomes ill or needs to quarantine, they can participate online for the day(s) during which they cannot be inside the classroom, provided they feel well enough to participate. 

How many modules can I take? Expand

We have one module available to Middle School students (entering grades 6-8): “Of Poaching, Profits and Pangolins: International Wildlife Trafficking” from June 21-24.

There are up to four modules available to High School students (entering grades 9-12). Please reference the above schedule for specific descriptions and dates. High school students can take one or more modules to suit their interests and schedules. While the modules and learning that happens in each are complementary and tend to build on one another, modules are designed to be independent, stand-alone offerings, so that students need not take one module to understand/keep up in another.

Is there financial assistance available? Expand

Yes! We are delighted to have fully-funded sponsorships available for San Diego-area students in need of financial assistance, and/or who identify as underrepresented and underserved in their community. 

What if I can’t find a ride to the program? What are other options for transportation? Expand

It is the responsibility of students and their families to arrange transportation to the program if attending in-person. However, we understand that the location of the program may make in-person attendance prohibitive for some students, and want to make our program as accessible as possible for all students who are interested in attending in-person. Other possible options include:

Public transportation: LJCDS is accessible by MTS Trolley on the UC San Diego Blue Line at the Executive Drive Station. SDDC may be able to cover the cost of trolley passes for students who receive a sponsorship to attend the program. Please indicate if you are interested in receiving a trolley pass in the registration form. 

Private bus service: SDDC is actively looking into whether we can provide bus transportation to GLYP students who need it, either at additional cost (for paying students) or as part of their sponsorship (for sponsored students). Whether we are able to offer bus service ultimately depends on the needs of our students and funding availability. If you are interested in bus service, please indicate this in your registration form and complete the relevant supplemental questions regarding your location. 

How do I receive credit at my school for taking this program? Expand

High School students will have the option to receive course credit, contingent upon approval from their home school. This requires registering for and then completing ALL  FOUR High School–level modules (June 27–July 1 and July 11–29), as well as additional coursework - asynchronous readings, a research paper and an original diplomatic simulation - as assigned by the program instructor. Depending on the specific approval/requirements from their home school, students can either earn credit in the form of a letter grade or as pass/fail. 

In order to register for GLYP for-credit, students will need to select the “for-credit” registration option and sign up for all four High School-level modules. San Diego Diplomacy Council will then contact your school for approval. 

For LJCDS students: LJCDS students meeting these requirements will earn a one-semester Upper School humanities elective credit.

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