PROJECT OVERVIEW

Mission Statement
To connect children of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, inspire them to partake in a dialog with each other, and work together to address global issues.

oals
- Create a youth-oriented documentary series highlighting how our actions in the global west directly affect the lives of those in struggling communities throughout Latin America
- Create a cross-cultural dialog through portfolios, an internet forum, and an ethnoforum
- Establish apprenticeships for high school graduates to work with existing NGO’s in the communities they’ve been learning about.

Background
The disconnect between Americans and the rest of the world is becoming increasingly apparent. What do we know about the lives of those who made our $80 jeans, grew the beans for our coffee, or whose native lands have been destroyed to provide oil for our energy-hungry culture? More importantly, how many opportunities do the residents of these communities have to partake in an open dialog - discussing their personal struggles and their ideas for change, with the rest of the world?

With the rise of global communication systems and commerce, terrorism, and climate change, we cannot pretend that the issues of one region do not affect the future of all humanity. The next generation of world leaders cannot be expected to have a true understanding of the issues they face when they are cut off from the lives of those who are most affected by their decisions. A child, living amidst the violence and abuse of the slums, has little hope of change when they’ve never even been given a voice. If it is a world of peace, compassion, and justice that we desire, we must first bridge these chasms of hope and understanding.



Vision
TE KORU seeks to bridge socio-economic and cultural divides by focusing on how we are all connected in a globalized world. By establishing a means for children to tell their stories, and listen to others’, we will empower them to create whole, sustainable communities, and inspire today’s youth to take an interest in the world and incorporate new perspectives into their problem-solving methods.


Approach
TE KORU will use adventure to ignite youth interest in world cultures, and help them to establish a forum for true democratic dialog that addresses global problems. Our explorers (2-3 adults) will travel through Latin America by motorcycle, creating a documentary series that highlights how our actions in the US directly affect these communities. Whilst en route, the explorers will encourage group discussions through a web forum, and answer questions submitted online. The explorers will also hold workshops in indigenous and slum communities where resident children will create portfolios, using art, photography, storytelling and music to reflect on their lives, current issues, and visions for future change. Upon return to the US, the portfolios and film will be presented to classrooms, and similar portfolio workshops conducted for exchange with the Latino youth.

Using adventure to excite and inspire, and both popular and traditional formats (web forum and film; art and music) to communicate with youth, TE KORU’s participants will gain a real-world education, discover how they personally fit into the global picture.