Dear GCI Community,
2020 certainly has been unprecedented and unpredictable with many challenges. At GCI, it has also been a year for reflection, growth and renewed focus on the GCI Community. Our mission—to empower young global citizens from all sectors of society to be lifelong leaders of positive change—is more important than ever and we are thankful to you for supporting GCI’s work.
As we look forward to a new year, we wanted to share the highlights of 2020 with you:
For the first time, the GSP ("Glocal" Service Project") Seed Funding Competition had two co-winners. Both Dina from Jordan and Takaya from Japan (Fellowship 2019) received US$750 in grants to continue to grow their GSPs
We held the first GCI Virtual Harkness®* Sessions during the summer, led by faculty from Phillips Exeter Academy, with participation by Ambassadors from around the world and from every Fellowship year
In October, GCI launched GoGCI, our much-anticipated online platform for connecting the GCI Community. Already we have over 70 Ambassadors, Seminar Educators, Mentors and former Teaching Assistants actively engaged on the platform
We established a partnership with the Morehead-Cain Foundation that enables us to nominate GCI Ambassadors for an incredible full scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
GCI hosted Ambassador Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, for an exclusive GoGCI virtual discussion and Q&A. This amazing program was attended by over 40 members of the global GCI Community. Special thanks to Ghada Amer (2014) who did an outstanding job as moderator
We received over US$2,000 in generous donations for Giving Tuesday and are continuing to receive donations in response to our Annual Appeal. Our heartfelt thanks to all who contributed, whether through these programs or at some other time during the year
In lieu of in-person programming next summer, GCI will hold the first GCI LEAD Challenge - a new and exciting virtual program for secondary school students who are interested in collaborating on solutions to the world's most pressing problems. We look forward to sharing more information on the GCI LEAD Challenge in January
Thank you for your continued support of GCI! We are incredibly grateful to every member of the GCI Community who allows us to continue to engage, educate and empower our youth as we could not do this without you. We so look forward to continuing to collaborate and enhance our efforts for a better tomorrow.
We wish you continuing health and much happiness during this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Yumi Kuwana and the GCI Team
*Harkness® is a registered trademark of Phillips Exeter Academy