Three ITC Students Participated on Young Global Pioneers Journey to China

YPPH sent three UPH ITC (International Teachers College) batch 2014 students to join a Learning journey with Young Global Pioneers to China on August 2-22, 2015

The participants were holding the flag of each country of origin

YPPH sent three UPH ITC (International Teachers College) batch 2014 students to join a Learning journey with Young Global Pioneers to China on August 2-22, 2015. The three selected students are Arjun Badi (Nepal), Audrinna Sundas (Nepal), and Jerome Gibran de Jesus (Philippines). They were selected as representatives on the basis of personality, commitment, and qualifications which were presented in their application and in the interview.   

Young Global Pioneers (YGP) is non-profit social business with great ambitions to establish a global youth network and aims to ignite curiosity, empathy and aspiration in the next generation of leaders, and to inspire young adults to become responsible leaders in whatever area of life they decide to pursue. YGP arranges global youth networks through 3-weeks learning Journeys for young adults from all over the world (ages 18-22). YGP aims to achieve their mission through a very unique approach. The approach is to provide the youth learning in a different and intuitive way based on experience, engagement, and dialogue.

The participants consisted of 20 youth from South Africa, Denmark, Norway, Philippines, Nepal, Japan, Russia, Germany, Turkey, and United States.  The diversity of this group aims to promote the importance and intentionality of cross-cultural learning and ideas sharing. Every night, the participants do reflection hour session, where each of participants wrote about what happened during the day and their thoughts about it. After writing their reflection, they divide into groups and discuss about their reflection and talk about related things pertaining their political, economic, cultural, social and environmental stance and their nation?s.   

The three week learning journey travelled through 5 cities in China, which are Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lu Zhou, and Shanghai with Young Global Pioneers was filled with various useful and fun intuitive activities, such as visiting tourism, art, and historical objects such as the Great Wall of China, art galleries, Chinese medicine and silk market, mount hiking, explored the terracotta army and visited several Innovation centers, Business companies/hubs, and Education/Social institutions such as New Century Global Centre, Panda Research Base, DeTao University, SAS Software company and an International Non-Governmental Organization, Save The Children. During their Save the Children visit, the participants were able to have eye-level meetings with the local Migrant Youth and exchange life stories with them. The participants were also involved in working in the rice fields and learn from the local farmers.   During their university visit, they had a chance to be educated by the professors about Circular Economy and 3D Printing.  During their SAS Software Company, they were able to interact with the Young professionals and the respected leaders of the company. 

In Xian, the participants had the privilege to speak at the Young Global Entrepreneurs and Innovation summit hosted by the government and universities of the Sichuan province. Jerome had the privilege to share about Social Entrepreneurship as a growing trend in businesses today and the importance of giving back to the community.   They also were able to interact with young entrepreneurs, college students, young professionals, and investors.

Each of the three ITC students has personal reason and impression about the program of Young Global Pioneers. Jerome has a strong passion for the refugees, the homeless, and the vulnerable and wishes to emphasize the importance of education.  

?Coming this trip itself gave me more insights of why education plays such a vital role towards helping others. This trip allowed me to network with people who share the same passion as I do and get insights towards global initiatives towards global issues. In the three weeks we were in China, I gained holistic and cultural understandings to globalization and issues around the globe. Not just learning but I was also  able to identify what strengths I have,? he said.

Meanwhile, Audrinna got a personal benefit from the journey.

?I was not really good with crowds and lots of people. That was why at the beginning I did not know if I would be able to go to China to enjoy and open my self. But eventually, I wanted this trip to be an opportunity for me to be more open-minded and curious about many things. This trip gave me insights about the issues that happen in one country, which apparently those issues happen in every country as well. During those 3 weeks, I really got to know my self and others? perspective about global issues. Now I am comfortable talking with people including those who I have not known yet.”

 Arjun, on the other side admitted to open himself more and be more open-minded.

?I have the passion in travelling. I have many experiences in travelling and have already visited many places. It was nice to know the different perspectives and cultures of people with different backgrounds, also to share information with them. We all have a good communication and will keep this good relationship and communication with the participants of Young Global Pioneers.?

One of the highlights in the journey in China was the Journey co-Mentor program, where every day, one participant was given opportunity by Young Global Pioneers to be a co-mentor and co-lead the group. Every participant had the same opportunity to become Journey co-Mentor.

In their journey, Audrinna, Arjun, and Jerome also shared their passion of Christian Rducation. Although the other participants came from different belief, they did not judge the faith of these three ITC students, instead they were very open-minded and curious. They were able to share their information and perspectives about each of their beliefs. ?I want to be able to represent Christ without forcing my belief to others,? Jerome said. According to Audrinna, although the participants came from different belief, everyone has the same ambitions and goal, which is to create a change in this world. Every participant had a strong emphasis on ?People helping People?. According to them, this world can change through people.

The journey might end, but Young Global Pioneers has provided a formal network for the participants, where they can still communicate and strengthen their relationships and share about opportunities and ideas for each other. After participating and learning a lot from this program, the participants have been planning to develop a project that will create an impact for others, so that the lessons learned from Young Global Pioneers would not only be an idea, but also executed in each place where the participants belong. (nn)