|
|
 |
|
Sister Cities International facilitated a number of exchange
activities which enabled US educators to interact personally with peers from
other countries.
Sister Schools of San Diego:
- Afghani Educators visited
10 K-12 schools in San Diego and Universities fully participating in the
educational and cultural exchange by making presentations and answering
questions.
- Masood Roashan visited
Afghanistan Sister Schools, video taped interviews, presented books created
by students in San Diego and answered questions about our students, schools
and American life. In addition he distributed funds and materials.
Plotkin
Family: A host family of an Afghani educator: We were so fortunate to be
able to deepen our understanding of the Afghani people during their stay with
us, particularly their suffering and resilience. We visited the Getty Museum
with the Afghani teachers to share architectural, cultural and artistic characteristics
of our lives. During the tour of the museum we encountered a special multimedia
presentation of emotions. Through high tech imagery the viewer was exposed to
the universality of facial expressions of feelings. As the Afghani teachers
saw the horror reflecting in suffering faces, they winced with an immediate
feeling of empathy. With this catalyst, they disclosed intimately about their
personal encounters with atrocities related to the years of war and the cruelty
of the Taliban regime. The gallery room was filled with sorrow and profound
pain. Though after a few minutes, the teachers willfully changed their mood
and attitude and began to speak of stories of their commitment to rebuild their
country and to once again create a world in which safety, education and women’s
rights could be achieved.
Other Sister City Exchanges
- St. Louis,
Missouri-St. Louis, Senegal
Teachers trained: 1 (from Senegal)
Students engaged with each other: 100
Schools equipped: 2
Curriculum materials produced and circulated: 1 – a photo essay comparing
and showing the similarities between the two communities was developed in
both French and English by the students in both places.
Physical interactions -- both here and in the Muslim world: 60
Videotapes and other media products created and distributed: 1
Arabic language interaction stimulated and enhanced: 0
Lesson plans which include a focus on Muslim countries (or vice versa on
the US): 3
- Pleasant Hill, California-Merzifon,
Turkey
Teachers trained: 2 (from Turkey)
Students engaged with each other: 60
Schools equipped: 2
Curriculum materials produced and circulated: 10
Physical interactions -- both here and in the Muslim world: 60
Videotapes and other media products created and distributed: 1 CD (previously
submitted to iEarn)
Arabic language interaction stimulated and enhanced: 0
Lesson plans which include a focus on Muslim countries (or vice versa on
the US): 3
- Prince George’s
County, Maryland-Ziguinchor, Senegal
Teachers trained: 1 (from Senegal)
Students engaged with each other: 80
Schools equipped: 3
Curriculum materials produced and circulated: 2 curriculum guides on Africa
and Ziguinchor.
Physical interactions -- both here and in the Muslim world: 50 (with more
planned for the near future)
Serious classroom online projects: 1 (web-cam communication)
Videotapes and other media products created and distributed: 2 (website
and photo albums)
Arabic language interaction stimulated and enhanced: 0
Lesson plans which include a focus on Muslim countries (or vice versa on
the US): 3
- Chicago, Illinois-Casablanca,
Morocco
Teachers trained: 2
Students engaged with each other: 50
Schools equipped: 1
Curriculum materials produced and circulated:
Physical interactions -- both here and in the Muslim world: 50
Serious classroom online projects: 0
Videotapes and other media products created and distributed: 0
Arabic language interaction stimulated and enhanced: 4
Lesson plans which include a focus on Muslim countries (or vice versa on
the US)
Subsequent to the exchange, a team of Moroccan artisans came to Chicago
to build a beautiful mosaic fountain in Garfield Park Conservatory. A Moroccan
grad student who is a member of the Casablanca Committee made a wonderful
video of the project and the Park will be able to show it at will. We also
sent a copy to Royal Air Maroc and hopefully they will show it on the airline.
Additionally, another sister school in Casablanca, with whom the committee
has had a longstanding and fruitful relation, sent 3 teachers over last
summer and they conducted classes in Arabic for several weeks, and learned
more about American teaching methodology.
|
|
|
Final Report