| Because
today's world calls for an increase in international and intercultural
understanding, The College of Wooster - through a generous grant
from the McGregor Fund, and continued support from the Seaman
Family Foundation - has established the Ambassadors Program, a
unique venture designed to facilitate the exchange of intellectual,
cultural, and material resources.
What is the primary mission of the Ambassadors
Program?
The Ambassadors Program seeks to encourage people to explore the
world - to make connections with diverse nations and cultures, to
discover both our similarities and differences and to experience
contemporary nations through the eyes of a native.
Why is the Ambassadors Program important?
America is the richest, most powerful nation in the world - elements
of American culture, entertainment, business and technology can
be found in almost all areas of the globe and its official language
(English) is spoken or understood by approximately 25 percent of
the world's population. This dominance has contributed to an unfortunate
lack of knowledge and understanding about other areas. The events
of September 11 have shown that Americans cannot continue to exist
in such naïve isolation. We need to discover foreign cultures,
ideologies, and religions and to understand more about the rest
of the world. Our global society requires that people understand
not only the interdependence and interconnectedness of the world,
but also that it is not focused solely on them and their familiar
culture, but contains elements from all around the globe.
How does it work?
Each year, five international students are selected to serve as
resident authorities from their homelands. Over the summer break
they research and gather the information and cultural items
necessary to teach others about their nation and culture.
Some research topics are determined by the Ambassadors Program
Coordinator in association with local educators, but the majority
are determined by the Ambassadors themselves - Ambassadors have
the freedom to cover topics that they feel are important or that
are interesting to them personally.
The research and items collected are made available to the community
through an outreach program designed to reach school children
and other educational institutions as well as local organizations
and businesses. All of our presentations are free of charge.
How are the Ambassadors selected?
An applicant for the position of Ambassador is required to be an
international student (a national of the country they plan to
represent) or a global nomad (someone who is not a national
of the country they plan to represent but who has lived there
for much of their life), or a first generation US-American.
Ideally they will have the innate knowledge about
a country/culture that only comes from having spent much time
there being immersed in the traditions and beliefs.
Applicants write an essay and outline a brief research agenda. They
then make a brief presentation to the selection committee. The committee,
comprising of faculty, staff and emeritus Ambassadors, selects candidates
based on their geographical location, enthusiasm, reliability, creativity
and their "presence" while speaking. New Ambassadors are
not required to be eloquent speakers as they will learn that skill
throughout their tenure as Ambassador, rather they need to have
ideas and a desire to learn and improve.
Our goal is to achieve a geographical dispersion among the Ambassadors
in any particular year, so it is possible that a qualified person
may be rejected because that geographical area is already covered.
Because many of the topics covered tell the Ambassador's personal
story it is possible to have an Ambassador from the same country
in consecutive years.
How do students benefit from participation?
Student Ambassadors have the opportunity to correct misconceptions
about their homeland and to remove some of the exoticism from others'
conception of their lives and homes. They learn leadership and presentation
skills while gaining research gathering and budget management experience.
Ambassadors are offered training and assistance in developing audience-appropriate
presentations and in public speaking. Also, Ambassadors have found
that they learn much about their own countries and have often found
a greater sense of themselves and who they are through participation
in the program.
How does the local community benefit from
this program?
The local community gains access to a valuable and currently underutilized
resource at The College of Wooster - our international students.
The opportunity to meet and interact with a person from another
country or culture can be priceless and life changing.
The Ambassadors Program aims to reach as many people as possible,
from elementary school children to local businesses and organizations
and retirement communities. Ambassadors are also available to speak
at community events thereby allowing a large percentage of the population
access to international and intercultural ideas and materials.
All presentations are free of charge. |
