The Institute of World Affairs partnered with the Quest Project, a pre-college program designed to educate and motivate middle and high school students within Milwaukee. Both organizations made significant contributions to the Summer Enrichment Program hosted by Life Center from June 26 to August 18. This transformative program consisted of students aged 8 to 15 years old who came together to explore their passions, values, and distinct aspects of human rights.
This program progressed into a series of enriching sessions, each building upon the last, fostering a deeper understanding of values and human rights. Under the guidance of dedicated facilitators, the students delved into discussions that uncovered their individual identities and perspectives, while also fostering empathy and understanding.
At the core of the program was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). With a clear understanding of their chosen human rights, the students devised “My Human Rights Super Strategy.” This exercise empowered them to envision superhero powers, abilities, and tools that could uphold, defend, and protect the rights they were most passionate about. Through the creation of clay sculptures and comic strip representations, the students breathed life into their superhero alter egos. Furthermore, the students learned to channel their passion into creating impactful messages through simple zine designs. These zines became the canvas for their thoughts, ideas, and insights about the human rights they chose to uphold.
The students created “Walk A Mile in My Shoe” designs and “Who I Am” projects, each represented the unique personalities and aspirations of every student. This project commenced with captivating artistic expression, as each student decorated a shoe and engaged in conversations about their dreams, values, and passions. Additionally, the students explored their values through the creation of Values Bracelets and Coat of Arms designs. These visual representations served as a platform for the diverse facets that made up their identities.
Highlights:
This event was supported in part by grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI National Resource Centers program. The content of this event does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
About the Author:
Christiana Ibiwoye is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, specializing in organizational communication. She also works with the Institute of World Affairs as a Communications Assistant. Her passion lies in using communication as a bridge to foster understanding and collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders. She plans to apply the knowledge and skills from her program to support organizations in building effective communication strategies that leads to successful project outcomes.