Eighty Years of Hope: How Education Keeps the UN Vision Alive

Eighty years ago, the world made a promise to rise from conflict and create a future built on peace, dignity, and cooperation. Today, as we celebrate the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, that promise continues to guide us. United Nations Day reminds us not only of the institution’s founding, but of a continuing human endeavor: to understand one another and to work together across borders and beliefs. For IVECA, this vision is more than history; it’s a living mission. Through intercultural education, global collaboration, and mutual respect, IVECA helps students turn the ideals of the UN into a daily reality. Every virtual exchange, every shared story, and every act of listening becomes a step toward the world the UN envisioned in 1945, a world united not by uniformity, but by shared humanity.

This week also marks Global Media and Information Literacy Week, a fitting companion to United Nations Day. Just as nations must cooperate to preserve peace, individuals must learn to navigate the digital world with wisdom and care. In an era overflowing with information, knowing how to think critically, question sources, and listen across cultures has become essential to global citizenship. 

​​Through its programs, IVECA empowers students to develop these crucial skills, recognizing bias, valuing truth, and using media ethically as a tool for understanding rather than division. When people learn to exchange information with empathy and respect, the screens that once separated them begin to transform into bridges that unite them.

Simultaneously with Global Media and Information Literacy Week, Disarmament Week begins on October 24, deepening the call for peace. If media literacy teaches us to disarm ignorance, disarmament itself reminds us to disarm fear. True peace requires more than the absence of weapons; it depends on the presence of trust. Within IVECA’s intercultural classrooms, students practice this kind of disarmament every day by listening before judging, questioning with respect, and reaching across differences. Through education, they learn to “disarm the mind,” transforming misunderstanding into mutual respect. Peace begins in thought before it is realized in the world, and IVECA helps plant that seed in every learner.

From this spirit of peace and trust flows another observance, World Development Information Day, also held on October 24. On the same day the world honors the founding of the United Nations, it also reaffirms that development must be guided by knowledge and cooperation. Information, when shared responsibly, fuels progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and uplifts communities everywhere. In this same spirit, IVECA helps students connect their local realities to global challenges, engaging with topics such as clean water, quality education, and climate action. Through these projects, students discover that the heart of development is not only about improving conditions, it is about expanding understanding, empathy, and collective purpose.

Together, these observances remind us that education is the foundation on which peace and progress stand. United Nations Day calls us to unity, Global Media and Information Literacy Week teaches us discernment, Disarmament Week inspires trust, and World Development Information Day reminds us to act with knowledge. IVECA carries all these ideals forward, transforming them into lived experiences that connect young minds and hearts worldwide.

As this meaningful week unfolds, let us also make a vow to stay awake. Awake to misinformation that divides, awake to voices that deceive, awake to the power we each hold to speak truth and build peace. In staying awake, we protect not only the integrity of information but the integrity of humanity itself.

#IVECA #YouthEmpowerment #CulturalExchange #GCED #UNDay #GlobalCitizenship #PeaceThroughEducation #MediaLiteracy #SDGs #InterculturalLearning #EducationForPeace #DisarmamentWeek #WorldDevelopmentInformationDay

IVECA Welcomes First-Time Participants: Cameroon, Singapore, Indonesia & South Carolina, USA

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon once said that a Global Citizen is any individual who can “look beyond the national boundaries and act in solidarity.” This Fall, new schools and countries are joining the IVECA program for the first time, bringing with them fresh perspectives and unique experiences. These students are collectively taking their first steps toward understanding the world beyond their own border and becoming true global citizens. 

For many students, the global citizenship path begins early on, sparking curiosity as awareness of the world around them develops. A group of 6th-8th graders from Green Middle School begins their IVECA journey for the first time from South Carolina in the United States, ready to explore the world beyond their own. Their projects this term will follow the lead of the 2026 UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Partnership Forum, emphasizing how the next generation envisions and contributes to a fairer, more sustainable future. As one student emphatically shared with his partner, “My dream is to make a difference in the world, not just in America but all over the world. I want to inspire young children who struggle with finding how to be themselves and to inspire other people.”

Meanwhile in Singapore, Sekolah Indonesia Singapura’s participation marks a historic first—representing both Singapore and Indonesia by joining the IVECA program. The Indonesian students living abroad already experience life in two different countries, and their participation adds valuable cross-cultural perspectives to the program’s international dialogue. While describing to their partner what it is like to live outside of their home country, one student shared, “I like living in Singapore because it is safe, clean, and filled with people from many cultures. At the same time, I feel proud to be an Indonesian citizen.” Through their projects, the Indonesian students will have an opportunity to reflect on and share how living between two cultures has shaped their unique understanding of global issues and international cooperation.

Across the world, Cameroon is also joining the IVECA program for the first time with significant insight and perspectives from the nation often described as “Africa in Miniature” thanks to its vast cultural diversity. At Government Bilingual High School Bamendakwe, students are engaging in cross-cultural discussions with their global partners, exploring the importance of sustainable development and safe, inclusive urban spaces. “As a Cameroonian, I feel proud of our cultural richness, traditional foods, and strong family values,” a student expressed, “I also see myself as part of the global community, where we can learn from one another and work together for a better world.” The students from Cameroon are bringing local knowledge, creativity, and innovative contributions to the international dialogue and collaboration.

These students embody the vision of global citizenship Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described: individuals who can look beyond national boundaries and engage with one another in meaningful, impactful ways. Through their collaboration with partners around the world, students are learning about more than sustainability and global challenges; they are actively becoming future leaders, thinkers, and changemakers who will shape the future.

#GCED #WelcometoIVECA #IVECA #GlobalCitizenship #GlobalCitizenshipEducation #NewParticipants #Cameroon #Singapore #Indonesia #SouthCarolina

One World, Many Voices: A Global Conversation Through IVECA

In their first IVECA activity, students from Cameroon, China, Colombia, Korea, Singapore, and the United States introduced themselves through text, images, and videos. Soon, even more countries will join, expanding this colorful mosaic of perspectives. What began as a simple introduction, saying who you are, quickly evolved into a rich lesson in language, identity, and empathy. Students practiced communication skills, compared daily life, and discovered shared values that will guide their upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) projects.

Each country’s introductions reflected both pride and excitement, revealing how young people express identity through culture and creativity. Cameroonian students described their homeland as “Africa in miniature.” One student proudly noted, “Cameroon is a place where everyone belongs; we speak many languages, but our hearts understand each other.” Chinese students painted vivid images of Jiangsu’s water towns and historical sites, blending ancient traditions with modern interests like digital design, rock music, and martial arts. As one student shared, “I’m really looking forward to learning more about you and exchanging thoughts about our cultures and interests.” Colombian and U.S. students found common ground through art, sports, food, and family, comparing their weekend routines and favorite meals, such as bandeja paisa. “I love sharing my culture and learning what life is like for students in other countries; it makes the world feel smaller and friendlier,” wrote one Colombian student. An American student echoed this spirit: “It’s amazing to see how much we have in common even though we live so far apart.” Their conversations radiated enthusiasm and openness, capturing the joy of discovery and the pride of representing one’s home.

Across all regions, students demonstrated genuine curiosity about one another’s worlds. They asked friendly and engaging questions such as “What time does your school start?”, “What are the most popular foods where you live?”, and “Do you celebrate similar festivals?” In one exchange, a student from Korea commented, “Your traditional dance looks so fun! It reminds me of our school festival,” while another from Singapore replied, “I’d love to visit your country one day, it looks so full of life!” These simple messages illuminated something powerful: beyond cultural differences, students were beginning to recognize themselves in one another’s stories. Their self-introductions formed a living tapestry of global youth identity, one that celebrated both individuality and connection, showing how curiosity can turn difference into understanding.

Through writing and interaction, students learned to communicate effectively and respectfully, focusing on ideas, kindness, and creativity rather than flawless grammar. More than a language exercise, this experience became a window into global belonging. As one participant reflected, “I feel like I’ve made friends from different parts of the world, not just learned about them.” This growing sense of connection embodies IVECA’s mission, transforming classrooms into spaces where cultural exchange builds empathy towards each other. Having experienced how their diverse perspectives can complement one another, students are ready to step forward as emerging global citizens eager to imagine a better, more connected, and sustainable world together.

#IVECA #GlobalCitizenship #InterculturalLearning #VirtualExchange #SDGs #YouthEmpowerment #CulturalExchange #GCED