Global Peace Exchange
Global Peace Exchange (GPE) engages students in supporting sustainable partnerships around the world and in the local community. GPE is a student-led initiative founded at Florida State University in 2006. Students on the undergraduate and graduate level have the opportunity to plan, budget, implement, and evaluate sustainable partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the globe, foster cultural exchange, and engage in learning service. Each year, teams partner with NGOs to create a series of 2 month projects which are then carried out during the summer. Since our inception, we have sent over 100 students to partner with NGOs based in 8 countries across the globe. GPE is the only student-lead organization at Florida State University with a focus on international development and international non-profit work.
Our students come from a diverse set of backgrounds, majors, and career ambitions. Several have been awarded grants for research conducted in a variety of fields as well as social entrepreneurship initiatives. In 2014 Global Peace Exchange won the Florida State University Organization of the Year Award, a recognition over 600 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) on campus may be nominated and compete for annually. Alumni have received recognitions such as Humanitarian of the Year, Social Science Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, and Truman Scholar. Graduating GPE members frequently serve in the Peace Corps or other international service groups and pursue careers within international non-profit organizations, multinational businesses, and U.S. state agencies.
GPE is supported by numerous on-campus entities throughout the year, including: The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, The College of Communication and Information and The FSU Center for Global Engagement. Global Peace Exchange is proud to be part of the award-winning internationalization efforts at Florida State University.
Global Peace Exchange at FSU website: www.globalpeaceexchange.org
Global FSU: global.fsu.edu
Global Peace Exchange at Florida State University has partnerships with four NGOs for the 2016-2017 year:
Clinic Nepal (Nepal)
Clinic Nepal is an NGO founded in the rural village of Meghauli, Nepal by Hari Bhandary in 1997. The NGO has central goals that include access to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitary facilities. Since 1997, Hari established a clinic in the rural village that provides free healthcare and medicine to the community members. Many sub-projects were established thereafter to compliment his visions. These projects include three kindergartens (one in Meghauli and two in Dadale, Nepal), a water tower that supplies clean water to the community of Meghauli, a friendship scout troop for the youth to grow via creative outlets and establish lasting friendships, sustainable environmental projects, a marketplace for shopkeepers, and a housing project in Ghorka, Nepal. In addition to these projects, Hari works with other organizations to host health camps in other rural areas of Nepal. These events aim to counteract the lack of healthcare that exists in those areas. Finally, Hari’s latest project is to establish a University in the rural village of Meghauli so that every child is guaranteed access to higher education and opportunities for successful futures. All of the projects encompass the central goals of the NGO while also taking direction from the communities they serve. This partnership aims to close gaps in community needs by providing English and teacher resources, donations for health and sanitation improvements, diverse youth exposure and donations for environmental sustainability and awareness.
Centre d' Education et de Formation des Jeunes (Haiti)
Centre d' Education et de Formation des Jeunes (CEFJ) is located in Port au Prince, Haiti in an area of the city called Cite Soleil (Sun City). Cite Soleil is one of the poorest areas and largest slums in the Western hemisphere. A majority of the residents are children and young adults. They face extreme poverty and most lack access to basic human needs such as latrines, regular and consistent meals, medical attention, and education. Children in Cite Soleil rarely have the opportunity to just be children. CEFJ is a free school providing a safe place to learn amidst the chaos of Cite Soleil. It is funded and administered by the Haitian non-profit organization Rajepre. Winter Luc founded Rajepre in 2006 to give the young people of the Bois Nef neighborhood in Cite Soleil opportunities to learn about sustainability through a gardening program, taking pride in their neighborhood through a street cleaning program, music classes, and more. He expanded Rajepre to include a school for children that would not otherwise have to opportunity to learn. The school follows the National Education Ministry curriculum which includes: Mathematics, French, Creole, Social Sciences, and Experimental Sciences. English and Spanish are added to the curriculum at the 7th grade level and Creative Arts is available for all children. The school currently serves children from Kindergarten through 9th grade. Rajepre’s goal is give children the opportunity attend school so they become aware of their own potential in the world and their community and are better equipped with the life skills necessary to make informed choices.
Esperanza Verde (Peru)
Esperanza Verde is an NPO conservation project based in the Amazon basin of Peru. Its main objectives are wildlife rescue and rainforest protection. The rescue center, officially recognized in 2014, provides shelter for dislocated native animals. The goal is to rehabilitate and release animals whenever possible, and careful consideration is given when releasing animals, such as their influence on existing wild populations, possible dangers, and the food and habitat available to a released animal, to name a few factors. Due to injuries and human exposure some animals are physically unable to survive in the wild or have lost their natural instincts and must live out their lives in the center. The center also has its own tree nursery to grow seeds and seedlings of wood and fruit trees for the local forest. The goal of this project is to preserve the existing natural trees and replace the large number of wood trees that have been felled in the area. Esperanza Verde is conscientious in planting native wood and fruit trees.
The goals of GPE while working at Esperanza Verde are to aid in the rehabilitation and release of rescued animals, to provide proper feed and care for animals, to contribute to local reforestation efforts, to contribute to the construction of the center, and to work alongside the local community to learn more about illegal trade and deforestation. For five days a week volunteers will be tasked to feed the animals, prepare food, clean cages, work in construction, plant trees, rake paths, clean the house and kitchen, and more.
Children with Hope for Development (Cambodia)
The Global Peace Exchange - Children with Hope for Development Partnership is in its third year. Children with Hope for Development (CHD) is locally-based in Po Village, Cambodia. The organization was founded in 2010 by Mister Sokha Treng and primarily seeks to provide a safe space for local children to receive free educational opportunities outside of government school. Thus, CHD functions as an after-school program, featuring classes on English, math, and computer skills. GPE team members travel each day from neighboring Takeo Town to Po Village and back. This year, the GPE team will expand upon the original English Education Project by focusing on our relationship with local teachers at CHD and providing workshops to aid in the classroom. Other related projects include English Conversation Club, designed for returning high schoolers, and various Before and After Class activities, included but not limited to tutoring, educational games, and reading books. The partnership aims to start a Digital Books Project to involve members of our local communities at FSU and within Tallahassee in the creation of virtual books which will be sent to the students at CHD on a year-round basis. Another goal of this year’s CHD Partnership is to establish a social enterprise to benefit community members of Po Village. The final component of the partnership is initiating weekend workshops with high schoolers to engage in discussion and activities related to leadership, the environment, and health.
How You Can Help
Funding for our organization will go towards partnership costs, individual project expenses, and volunteer support. Although each of our volunteers are providing from their own personal savings for these partnerships, we would sincerely appreciate any contribution. With your support, we intend to sustain and growth our efforts for the following year.