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  • Writer's pictureGCI
    • Aug 13, 2020
    • 4 min read

GCI Ambassadors Share Their Summer 2020 Experiences

Dear GCI Community,


We have shared that the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have reinforced how important it is to empower young global citizens from all sectors of society. Like many of our GCI Ambassadors, GCI has had to pivot this summer and we are reimagining how we move our mission forward. We have increased our focus on the Ambassador community, by holding Virtual Harkness®* and Hangout Sessions and by reinvigorating the purpose our Ambassador Advisory Council and Class Agents. We are grateful to have been able to connect and reconnect with so many in our community, in the process.

GCI is always impressed by our Ambassadors’ sense of purpose, even during the toughest of times, and would like to share some examples of their efforts this summer.

 


Kevin Zhen (GCI Ambassador 2015, Ambassador Advisory Council):

Miami, Florida, United States


Teaching the Next Generation


Kevin presenting at the GCI Summit 2018, a favorite photo he uses on his website.

When Kevin flew home to Miami for spring break, he thought he was about to set off for Amsterdam and then return to finish his senior year at Yale University, as planned. Then, travel bans and flight restrictions to Europe were put into place. Kevin never got to go to Amsterdam, and he didn't get to return to school to complete his last semester either.



ZhenEd's Summer Incubator.

While at home, Kevin decided to use the skills he has already developed as an entrepreneur to help young students in the new school-from-home environment. Kevin started ZhenEd to help teach 7th to 10th graders how to design and launch their own businesses, social enterprises, movements and projects, just as Kevin has been doing ever since participating in the GCI Fellowship in 2015.


A ZhenEd online class.

Through his network, Kevin has had over 130 students from Canada, South Korea, China and 30 states in the US attend his ZhenEd Webinar and ZhenEd Incubator. The Webinar focuses on teaching students how to plan and explore ideas through weekly group classes, while the Incubator aims to have each student execute their project.


During this time, Kevin also graduated from Yale University, attended weekly online dance sessions and continued to figure out his next steps, including planning fall and winter offerings of his Webinar and Incubator.


Photo 1: Kevin presenting at the GCI Summit 2018, a favorite photo he uses on his website. Photo 2: ZhenEd's Summer Incubator. Photo 3: A ZhenEd online class.


 


Sydney Ochieng (GCI Ambassador 2017, GSP Seed Funding Winner):

Connecticut, U.S. and Kisumu, Kenya


Learning and Helping From a Distance


Sydney's most recent headshot.

Months before the pandemic swept across the world, Sydney had shipped 20 computers and textbooks from Connecticut–where he attends Wesleyan University–to Kenya for the center he is establishing to help local students get into American universities. However, because of the coronavirus, his partners at home were unable to collect the shipment until June. Once local restrictions were lifted, they were finally able to set up the center. Although schools in Kenya are closed until January 2021, which makes their recruitment process more complicated, Sydney’s partners have nevertheless started to identify students to join the center. Currently, most of their efforts are focused on fundraising to be able to support double the number of students intended for next year.