August 2-11, 2008 University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
USA
Conference Overview:
The International Leadership Development Programme, organized as a forum, is premised on a three-fold understanding of the vital role leaders play in society. The first is that every new generation of human rights leaders builds on the work of those who came before it. The second is that in today's increasingly interdependent global world, where actions or events in any part of the global system have impact on people in other regions of the world, there is a need to build a network of solidarity and to nurture a new cadre of human rights leaders who can educate others and provide enlightened leadership to meet the complex and multifaceted challenges of the new millennium. And the third is that young people are a force to be reckoned with and that the future belongs to them. In order, to ensure that they are effective leaders for a better future, today’s leaders have a duty to impart their knowledge to the younger generation of leaders and to alert it of the pitfalls of the past. This is because, although the circumstances under which the new generation of leaders operates/will operate are different, the issues that confront them are not fundamentally new to humanity and the types of strategies that would help them tackle the various issues need not be completely reinvented but innovatively adapted to new circumstances.
A principal reason why the Intergenerational Forum focuses on young leaders specifically is because, more than any other group in society, their training will most likely have great and ripple impact on society. Accordingly, the Forum will place premium on nurturing and developing young people for local and global leadership and building bridges and a network of solidarity, which promote the sharing of experiences and understanding of, and provide an impetus for, the empowerment of young leaders that will enable them to play a crucial and constructive role in the development of human rights in their communities and the world at large. The conference will provide tools and a platform for open debates about policies, programs, activities and processes necessary for human rights leadership.
In appreciation of the dynamics of an interdependent world, the UNESCO Chair will host an annual intergenerational forum that brings together young leaders from all regions of the world in the field of human rights once annually. The forum will be held in August of each year to coincide with the International Youth Day, which is commemorated at the United Nations Headquarters in the USA. This will provide opportunities for participants to participate in Youth Day activities and meet with UN leaders. To complement the annual forum, regional fora will also be held in various continents.
APPROACH AND OBJECTIVES
The leadership development programme is informed by the principle of reciprocal consultation, learning and empowerment and cross pollination of ideas and ideals. Participants at the conference will be individuals from all over the world who have been involved in some capacity in human rights work in their communities. Selected young people will engage through dialogue with experienced and older human rights practitioners to gain management skills and techniques and a greater understanding of human rights issues on a global level.
The main objectives of the Forum are to: involve young leaders in finding solutions to emerging human rights problems; nurture individuals to be effective leaders in the field of human rights; promote the sharing of experiences and understanding; provide an impetus for, and the empowerment of, youth leaders that will enable them to play a crucial and constructive role in the development of human rights in their communities; build a network of solidarity among future leaders in the field of human rights; hone the skills and expand the knowledge relevant to human rights practice; and provide tools and a platform for open debates about policies, programmes, activities and processes necessary for human rights leadership.
Participants at the conference will be individuals (ages 18-30) from all over the world who have been involved in some capacity in human rights work in their communities. Participants will receive training in areas such as grassroots organizing, building coalitions, effective communication, use of media for human rights education, and understanding of the processes and relevance of restorative justice. It is planned that discussions will be conducted under the rubric of four principal areas; namely poverty, education, health, conflict resolution and/or transformation. Specific areas of focus will include issues such as human trafficking, the plight of children, refugees and war, hunger, HIV/AIDS, religious intolerance, gender discrimination, racism and classism, peace education and environmental concerns.
Selected young people will engage through dialogue with experienced and older human rights practitioners to gain management skills and techniques and a greater understanding of human rights issues on a global level. A principal objective is to nurture individuals to be effective leaders in the field of human rights. Conference presenters/speakers/facilitators have been asked to serve in an ongoing capacity as mentors to the young participants upon their return to their home communities and countries.
OUTCOMES
To continue dialogue and exchange of ideas among the participants and to enable mentors to share their insights, a listserv will be established to facilitate on-going communication.
Publication: A summary of the highlights of the forum will be published together with contribution from participants who will be asked to write essays about the practical application of the forum to their areas and communities of engagement. Ten to twenty of the best and representative essays will be selected for publication annually for wider dissemination. The publication will track progress made by participants, as well as serve as a record of activities by participants.
Please note:All conference participants will be provided with resource materials (i.e. website/listserv information), certificate of participation, lodging, meals and ground transportation. As post-conference follow-up, the UNESCO Chair will also establish a website and group e-mail distribution list (listserv) to allow for the support and continuation of the work started at the conference. The website and listserv will also enable participants to remain in contact with their mentors and with one other.
Fluency in English is required. Conference will be held in English only.
am
All conference participants arrive
Check-in/Registration: Summer Conference Housing Desk
Rome Commons Ground Floor (South Campus)
11:00 am
Meet/Greet Brunch
2:00 pm Depart for Holiday Hill Day Camp for Team Building Course (all participants to dress for outdoor recreational activity)
5:00 pm
Making of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
South Campus Building A Room 112
6:00 pm
Opening Ceremony and Movie Screening
Monday, August 4, 2008 –
Keynote, Sharing of Experiences, MDG’s
7:00 – 8:30 am
Breakfast
9:00-11:00 am
Greetings and Introduction of Mr. Kathrada by University President Mike Hogan
Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room
Keynote Address by Mr. Ahmed Kathrada
followed by Q&A
11:00 am
Break
11:15 am
Open Forum for Young Leaders: Sharing of Experiences and Perspectives
1:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Workshop I: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Millennium Development Goals
Dr. Shyamala Raman, Professor of Economics and International Studies and Director of International Studies, Saint Joseph College
4:15 pm
Break
4:30 pm Open Forum for Young Leaders: Sharing of Experiences and Perspectives
6:15 pm
Dinner
7:30-9:00 pm
Facilitated Group Meeting/Team Investigations
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 Sustaining a Culture of Peace
7:00-8:50 am
Breakfast
9:00–10:50 am
Workshop: Student Union Room 304 Leadership Skills for Social Action
Mr. Joseph P. Briody, Associate Director - Leadership Development, Involvement and Leadership Programs
11:15 am -12:30 pm
Workshop: Student Union Room 304
Culture of Peace
Dr. David Adams, United Nations Global Movement for a Culture of Peace and Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Wesleyan University
12:30 pm
Lunch
2:15-3:15 pm
Workshop Activity: ITE Room 134/138 Culture of Peace News Network Training
3:30 – 5:15 pm
Workshop: ITE Room C80 Global Health and Human Rights/Nutrition
and Hunger
Dr. Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, Professor of Nutritional Sciences & Public Health and
Director, NIH EXPORT Center for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (CEHDL)
5:30-7:30pm
Facilitated Group Dinner Meeting/Team Investigations
8:00 pm
Shared Experience: Wilson Residence Hall
Room 124/125 Use of Theatre in Human Rights Education
Dr. Joyce Ashuntantang, Professor of English Literature and EduArt
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Education for Conflict Resolution
7:00-8:50 am
Breakfast
8:00 am
Board Bus for Bloomfield
9:00–11:30 am
NGO site visit to FoodShare of Hartford
Overview provided by Gloria McAdam, CEO of FoodShare
11:30 am
Depart Bloomfield for Campus
12:15-1:15 pm
Facilitated Group Luncheon Meeting/Team Investigations
1:30 – 3:15pm
Workshop: Wilson Residence Hall Room 124/125 Fundraising/Grant Writing Panel
Christina Storm, Lawyers Without Borders, et al
3:30 pm
Shared Experiences: South Campus Building A Room 124/125 From Atomic Bomb Scientist to Human Rights Activist
Dr. Charles Prewitt, Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Connecticut/Eastern Connecticut State University
4:45-8:00 pm
Picnic: Mansfield Hollow Dam
8:00-9:00 pm
Facilitated Group Meetings/Team Investigations
Thursday, August 7, 2008
6:45 am
Bus departs for New York
9:30am
Arrive at the UN (security clearance)
10:30 am
Briefing from the Office of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict
12:00 pm
Tour of UN
1:00 pm
Lunch
2:30 pm
NGO site visit - UNDP Gender Division
4:30 pm
Walking tour of Time Square (in groups)
7:30 pm
Depart New York for UConn Campus
(arrive at 10:00pm)
Friday, August 8, 2008 Education/Conflict Resolution/Organizing/Use of Media
7:00-8:45 am
Breakfast
9:00 am
Shared Experience: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Creating Organizational Medium for Youth Participation at a Global Level
Ms. Tiffany McKinney, Executive Director of the One World Foundation
10:00 am
Shared Experience: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Meeting Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
Ms. Krishna Sondhi, Founder of Kumarian Press, Publisher of global development, civil society and NGOs, humanitarianism, peace building, gender, globalization, microfinance and governance books
11:00 am
Break
11:15-1:00 pm
Workshop: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room
Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution & Transformation: Human Rights Approach (Rule of Law and Education)
Prof. Amii Omara-Otunnu, UNESCO Chair-holder in Comparative Human Rights, Executive Director of the UConn-ANC Partnership and Professor of History
1:00 pm
Facilitated Group Luncheon Meeting/Team Investigations
2:00 pm
Workshop: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Grassroots Organizing
Ms. Anu Kapoor, Managing Trustee, Director and Founder of Swayam, an NGO committed to fighting violence against women in India
4:00-5:30 pm
Facilitated Group Meeting/Team Investigations
5:30 pm
Dinner
7:30-10:30 pm
Multicultural Night Showcase
Special Performance by Echo Uganda (Gideon Ampeire)
Saturday, August 9, 2008 Economic Rights/Rights of Child Soldiers/Use of Law/Media
7:00-8:45 am
Breakfast
9:00 am
Workshop: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Engagement for Economic Justice: Activists as Agents of Change
Ms. Emira Woods, Director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute of Policy Studies/Advocacy
10:45 am
break
11:00 am
Shared Experience: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Plight of Child Soldiers
Ms. China Keitetsi, Human Rights Advocate and Former Child Soldier
12:30 pm
Facilitated Group Luncheon Meeting/Team Investigations
1:30–3:15pm
Workshop: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Use of Law: A Tool for Change through Litigation, Negotiation, Politics and NGO’s (Legislative/Governmental/Advocacy)
Diane Sammons, Esq., Partner, Law Firm of Nagel Rice & Mazie, New Jersey.
3:30-5:15 pm
Workshop: Shippee Residence Hall Banquet Room Use of Media/Human Rights Reporting
Dorinda White, Communications Director for Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA-33) and Creative Media Consultant, Rindi Media International
5:30-7:00 pm
Facilitated Group Dinner Meeting/ Team Investigations – preparation for Action Plan Presentations
Sunday, August 10, 2008 The Way Forward
7:00 am
Breakfast
Facilitated Group Meetings/ Team Investigations/Action Plan Presentation final preparations
12:00 pm
Lunch
2:00 pm Action Plan Presentations
6:30 pm Farewell Dinner and Closing Ceremony: Nathan Hale Inn Pavilion
Presentation of Certificates
Monday, August 11, 2008 Departure
7:00 am
Breakfast: Wilson Residence Hall Room 113
am
Departure
12:00 pm
Dormitory Closes
*The conference organizers reserve the right to amend the program.
The application process for the 2008 Forum
is closed.
The application process for 2009 will begin in October 2008.
Fluency in English is required. Conference will be held in English only. In order to be considered for admission to the International Leadership Forum, please submit the following:
1. A completed and signed application form 2. Letter of intent (please attach as word, pdf, or text document) 3. Curriculum Vita/Resume (please attach as word, pdf, or text document) 4. Names and contact information for three professional references
*Please note: Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application deadline is February 13, 2009.
For additional information:
If you have questions regarding the application/registration, program content, special needs requirements, or dormitory housing, please call the UNESCO Chair Office at 860-486-0647 or email unescochair@uconn.edu.
ALL applications must be submitted electronically or via facsimile no later than March 13, 2009 to unescochair@uconn.edu /fax: 860.486.2545
University of Connecticut
UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights
233 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4124
Storrs, CT 06269-4124
860.486.0647 Phone
860.486.2545 Fax
Travel/Housing:
Upon acceptance to the International Leadership Forum, each applicant will be provided with a letter of invitation. The UNESCO Chair Office will provide all conference participants with dormitory housing, meals and ground transportation in Connecticut during the Forum. The applicant is responsible for securing their own visa, air travel to the United States and travel to Connecticut. Due to the volume of applications, only successful candidates will be notified.
Full attendance at all organized workshops and activities is mandatory upon acceptance. Conference is intensive, please review sample daily itinerary. Applicants are expected to arrive in Hartford, Connecticut on August 2 and 3 and depart on August 11 (only those traveling internationally will be accommodated as early as August 2). However, as the conference dormitory closes on the 11 of August, we will not be able to accommodate participants beyond August 11.
Applicants who are not able to commit to the week long conference in its entirety should not apply.
Airlines & Local Transportation
The UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights Office will provide ground transportation for conference participants to the University from the following two locations, no exceptions will be made:
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is the one major airport serving the Hartford (CT)-Springfield (MA) area. Bradley is one of New England's most convenient and easily accessible airports. Bradley is located 12 miles north of Hartford, Connecticut, and 35 miles from the University of Connecticut.
Major Airlines Servicing Bradley International Airport:
Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada, American Airlines, American Connection, and American Eagle.
The UNESCO Chair office will be scheduling set shuttle pick-ups from Bradley Airport on August 2, 2008 for international participants and on August 3, 2008 for domestic participants. Shuttle schedules will be announced closer to the date of the conference. Please be aware that there may be a waiting period.
UNION STATION in Hartford, CT
Union Station in Hartford, CT is located at 1 Union Place. This station is where the bus lines, Amtrak train and Connecticut Limousine will drop off participants.
The UNESCO Chair office will be scheduling set shuttle pick-ups from Hartford, Union Station on August 2, 2008 for international participants and on August 3, 2008 for domestic participants. Shuttle schedules will be announced closer to the date of the conference. Please be aware that there may be a waiting period.
Alternatively, if you will be flying through New York City or Boston here are instructions on how to get to Union Station:
JFK International Airport (New York City)Arrivals:
Option I: Travel by shuttle to Union Station in Hartford
Connecticut Limousine
Connecticut Limousine provides transportation for individuals directly from JFK to Union Place in Hartford
Tickets can be purchased from the Connecticut Limousine booth which is located in the ground transport area of JFK. Shuttles leave JFK for Connecticut every hour. Approx. travel time is
3 hours.
Reservations can be made upon arrival at airport or by visiting www.ctlimo.com or by contacting 1.800.472.LIMO (5466) or 203.878.2222. Mon-Fri from 6AM-12AM; Sat-Sun from 7AM-9PM.
Option II: Travel by Bus to Union Station in Hartford
(or UConn)
IMPORTANT: You must first make your way from JFK Airport to the Port Authority terminal, located at 625 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018
From Port Authority in New York to Union Place in Hartford
(Round Trip $50.00). Departs more than 25 times per day.
From Port Authority in New York to The University of Connecticut (Round Trip $55.00). Departs only at 9:00am and 2:00pm daily.
Getting from JFK to Port Authority:
When exiting your flight follow the signs toward ground transportation and the luggage claim. After few steps, you will see an AirTrain sign pointing you outside.
Pay careful attention to the signs, you will be lead around a building and up an elevator to the AirTrain entrance, but please watch for the signs
There are three AirTrain routes and the arriving AirTrain announces its route clearly and loudly, so just listen to make sure you get on the correct train. The AirTrain connects to the following trains and subways:
The LIRR at Jamaica Station
The E, J/Z subways at Jamaica Station
The A subway at Howard Beach Station
When leaving the airport, take the AirTrain one going to Jamaica or Howard Beach station to connect to MTA Log Island Rail Road (LIRR) trains, MTA New York City Transit subways and local buses.
The Howard Beach is the blue line Subway A which is the 8 Avenue Express. This subway will take you directly to 42nd Street which is Port Authority/Bus Terminal if you are coming to Connecticut by bus, so YOU ONLY NEED TO TAKE ONE SUBWAY FROM JFK AND EXIT ON 42ND. Or if you are taking a train, this subway will take directly to Penn Station which is the 34th Street on 8 Avenue.
The Jamaica station is also the blue line BUT Subway E which is also the 8 Avenue Express. The Subway E is better because is a short trip and has less stops than Subway A. This subway will also take directly to 42nd Street which is Port Authority/Bus Terminal if you are coming to Connecticut by bus, soYOU ONLY NEED TO TAKE ONE SUBWAY FROM JFK AND EXIT ON 42ND. Or if you are taking a train, this subway will take directly to Penn Station which is the 34th Street on 8 Avenue.
Remember:
rom JFK take AirTrain
From AirTrain to either Howard Beach or Jamaica Station
If Jamaica Station Subway E-42nd Street (Port Authority/Bus Terminal OR 34TH Street (Penn Station/ Trains Terminal) Short Trip
If Howard Beach Subway A-42nd Street (Port Authority/Bus Terminal OR 34TH Street (Penn Station/ Trains Terminal) Long Trip
The subway fare is $2.00 (available 24 hours)
Option III: Travel by Train
IMPORTANT: You must first make your way from JFK Airport to Penn Station, located at 8th Avenue 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
To Connect to Local Trains and Subways from JFK
Take AirTrain to Jamaica Station (see detailed instructions above).
At Jamaica Station, take a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train to New York Penn Station.
At New York Penn Station, take an Amtrak train to Hartford, Connecticut. Please see www.amtrak.com for details and schedules.
LOGAN Airport (Boston) Arrivals:
Peter Pan Bus Lines/Greyhound Bus Lines
From Logan Airport in Boston to Union Place in Hartford
(Round Trip $72.00). Buses depart 5 times per day.
Please refer to www.peterpanbus.com for details and schedules.
Driving Directions:
From New York City and points West (heading through or from Hartford):
Take Interstate 84 East to Exit 68. From exit, take a right onto
Route 195, 7 miles to UConn.
From Boston and points East:
Take Interstate 84 West to Exit 68. From exit, take a left onto
Route 195, and follow directions above
From the Southeast:
Take Interstate 95 to 395 North. Take Exit 81 West to Route 32 North. Follow Route 32 North to Willimantic. In town, turn right and go over bridge. Continue straight through the light and follow 195 North for 8 miles to campus.
If you have questions regarding the application/registration, program content, special needs requirements, or housing, please call the UNESCO Chair Office at 860-486-0647 or email unescochair@uconn.edu.
ALL applications must be submitted electronically or via facsimile no later than February 23, 2007 to unescochair@uconn.edu /
fax: 860.486.2545
University of Connecticut
UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights
233 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4124
Storrs, CT 06269-4124
UNESCO Chair & Institute of Comparative Human Rights, 233 Glenbrook Road Unit 4124, Storrs, CT 06269-4124
Phone: 860-486-0647, Fax: 860-486-2545 |unescochair@uconn.edu
