YOUTH FACING THE GLOBAL MIGRATION AND REFUGEE CRISIS: A DIPLOMATIC SIMULATION & ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Do you want to learn to to negotiate international crises like a diplomat? Do you want to experience advocacy regarding migration and refugee issues in the U.S. and around the world?
This is an online program for high school students who are interested in experiencing global citizenship, learning about diplomacy, and engaging in advocacy related to global migration.
This program has been designed especially for high school students with an international background (ESOL or otherwise), but students without an international background are very welcome to join as well.
This program has two components: 1) a Diplomatic Simulation designed by the U.S. Department of State and 2) an Advocacy Service Project that invites students to engage domestic and global stakeholders with an interest in migration and the care of refugees.
DIPLOMACY. In two online sessions, STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO NEGOTIATE AN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION CRISIS INVOLVING REFUGEE RIGHTS AND BORDER SECURITY. Student will participate in a Diplomatic Simulation designed by the U.S. Department of State. Students will work in small groups to represent “stakeholders” (e.g. countries, multilateral organizations, NGOs) in a negotiation process. See here for information about the U.S. Department of State’s National Museum of American Diplomacy, which has designed and which offers these simulations, and here for the simulation that students will complete in this program.
This Diplomatic Simulation program will include two (2) online preparation and negotiation Sessions:
- In the First Online Session on Monday, December 7, students will receive their scenario materials and will be divided into stakeholder teams representing the affected countries, the United Nations and a non-governmental refugee rights organization. Teams will meet to prepare their negotiating strategies.
- In the Second Online Session on Wednesday, December 9, students representing their stakeholder teams will learn how to prepare, strategize, and negotiate with each other in informal and formal negotiation sessions, with the goal of achieving a diplomatic solution to the immigration and refugee crisis scenario.
ADVOCACY. In addition, STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE AN ADVOCACY SERVICE PROJECT, at home under the guidance of program facilitators, following the conclusion of the Diplomacy Simulation.
Students will write letters and/or emails advocating action on issues of their choice related to the topics addressed in the Diplomatic Simulation. Issues addressed include (but are not limited to) asylum, border security, human rights, immigration, migration, and/or refugees.
Under the guidance of the facilitators of the Diplomatic Simulation, students will study how advocacy and letter-writing campaigns work, engage in research regarding an issue of concern to them, review templates of effective advocacy communications created by non-profit organizations, and finally, draft, undergo an editing process and send their letters to elected representatives and/or to the governmental or non-governmental organizations of their choice.
Taken together, this program consists of: four (4) hours of preparation for and the conduct of the Diplomatic Simulation, plus four (4) hours of engagement in the Advocacy Service Project. The Diplomatic Simulation will introduce students to the language of “stakeholders” in international migration and border crises. The Advocacy Service Project will enable students to take action communicating with actual stakeholders involved in real-world migration and refugee affairs.
Student Service Learning (SSL) Credit Hours: This program offers local high school students the opportunity to earn SSL credit hours through WCIE. This program has been approved for SSL credit by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Students in other public schools or in private schools may also be eligible for community service or SSL hour credit. Ask your school’s community service or SSL coordinator if your school will recognize this program for SSL or community credit hours.
Schedule and Times:
- One hour of at-home review of preparation materials on the diplomatic process prior to December 7, 2020. At-home review of materials will include completing of readings, watching videos, and preparing a description of their stakeholder’s position regarding the simulation.
- Two online participatory Diplomacy Simulation sessions on Monday, December 7, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- A four-hour Advocacy Service Project where the student will work from home at a mutually convenient time, in contact with the program facilitators between December 10 and December 17, 2020. This component of the program includes two hours online with instructors, discussing and reviewing advocacy and issue letter-writing projects; and review of letter templates. In addition, students will spend two hours engaging in research regarding issues of concern to them that are related to the Diplomatic Simulation (e.g. migration, human rights, refugees and/or border security or related issues); drafting an advocacy communication to an elected representative or to a government or non-governmental organization of their choice regarding the chosen issue; sending the draft communication for review and comment; and revision of the communication.
Total: Eight Hours
To Register: Students interested in this program must complete an online registration form here. Students will also need to provide a short personal statement (two to four paragraphs) explaining why they want to take part in this program and what they hope to learn from their participation.
Requirements: Students must be between 15 and 19 years of age. Students must complete the application and provide a short personal statement by Wednesday, November 18. Non-native English speaking students must have English language proficiency at a High Intermediate level or above.
Timeline: Students will be informed if they are accepted to the program and will be provided program materials by Wednesday, November 25.
Questions: If you have questions, please email us at communityservice@washingtoncie.org.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING, WITH RESPECT TO ONLINE COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM:
- A student’s parent/guardian must provide WCIE with written approval of the student’s participation in activities on our virtual platform - Zoom - prior to the student serving/volunteering.
- Students must use personal/private accounts (not MCPS or other student accounts) to engage in the virtual platform.
- Students will only engage with others under the direct supervision of a WCIE program coordinator. The WCIE program coordinator will be directly present in Zoom (including any breakout sessions) at all times.
- The WCIE program coordinator will initiate and host all virtual sessions. If the WCIE program coordinator is not available to initiate and host the virtual session, the session will not occur.
- Virtual sessions will not be recorded.
- Students should not share or upload any videos, pictures, or images of themselves, unless WCIE has obtained a signed form/waiver from the student’s parent/guardian authorizing permission/release. WCIE does not currently have plans to seek such permission but will request permission from students if necessary.
- Students’ email addresses/home addresses or any personally identifying information will remain protected and not shared.
Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy at any time the student is interacting with the nonprofit and its clients. The nonprofit organization will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns. This service activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home until schools resume normal status.
