The Plan

The goal of TE KORU is to use adventure to stimulate interest in the world’s cultures, and inspire children to partake in a dialog with others to resolve global issues and create a future based on open communication, sustainability, and compassion. Eventually, TE KORU will incorporate equipment such as remote satellite technology for communication. Initially, however, we must build a foundation. For this reason, Mission I will act as a preliminary exchange.


MISSION I: Testing the waters

Goals:
- Explore the potentials and limitations of long-distance exchange
- Gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural issues of our exchange sites
- Explore the educational needs and interests of kids

Proposal:

Connect 2 groups of US children with 2 groups of Latin American (“LA”) children:
- Inner-city group in US (referred to as “group A” or “GA”) connects to favela/slum community in Latin America (referred to as “community 1” or “C1”)
- Suburban group in US (“GB”) connects to indigenous community in Latin America (“C2”)

STEP 1:
- Research the 2 Latin American communities (society, culture, needs, environment)
- Obtain background information on the 2 US groups (organization/school group focus, dynamics, etc)

STEP 2:
- Present overview of Latin American community to respective US partner group
- Solicit questions, ideas, and interests from US kids
- Collect gift from US kids to present to LA partner group (ie, school supplies or appropriate gift)

STEP 3:
- Spend 1 month in C1
- Document community life (video, blogs, photos)
- Run workshop with children to create portfolio
- Volunteer with existing local project

STEP 4:
- Spend 1 month in C2
- Document community life (video, blogs, photos)
- Run workshop with children to create portfolio
- Volunteer with existing local project
- Volunteer with existing local project


STEP 5:
- Return to US
- Edit video, create cohesive presentation
- Give presentation and distribute portfolios
- US kids respond to LA portfolios and questions
- US kids create similar portfolio

STEP 6:
- Return to Latin America
- Spend 1 – 2 weeks in each of the 2 communities
- Present US kids’ responses and portfolios
- Solicit responses to US groups questions
- Open-table discussion: project feedback, ideas for improvement and/or expansion

STEP 7:
- Return to US
- Give LA kids’ responses to US groups
- Open-table discussion with US kids: project feedback, ideas for improvement and/or expansion

STEP 8:
- Write summation and conclusion
- Begin planning for Mission II