Blog Archives

Global Citizen Festival Inspires the World

9/29/2015

Global Citizen Host Stephen Colbert

Malala (right) speaks to audience

By Katie Curran, Editor-In-Chief

Where do you find global leaders calling upon a crowd of 60,000 people to eradicate global poverty? No other place than the Global Citizen Festival.

I am so grateful for the generosity of the Global Poverty Project and the Global Citizen Festival. After I took action to address global health and food security through emailing, calling and tweeting world leaders, I was thrilled to hear that I won tickets to the event. I was deeply immersed in the cause. It was profoundly moving to address issues of global importance with incredible policymakers and pop stars that inspire me each day.

Global citizenship took the center stage in New York City this weekend as international leaders convened at the United Nations for the General Assembly. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate poverty by 2030 were successfully adopted.

An expansive 60,000 person wave of change convened in Central Park as notable figures called upon the international community to address the dire state of poverty. Hosted by Stephen Colbert and Hugh Jackman, the show welcomed speakers such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Katie Holmes. Leo DiCaprio noted that “right now Europe is paralyzed trying to absorb the influx of over a million Syrian refugees”.

I was enamored by the cadence of Malala’s call to action. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, stood in front of me and asked the crowd to stand with her and girls around the world for education and peace. It was a humbling experience to see someone I so look up to in person. Malala hopes for education to be regarded as a human right in this fast paced global society, saying that "No one leader would want their child deprived of an education"

Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead vocalist, pledged to help the Global Citizen organization for the next 15 years to eradicate poverty. Coldplay performed with Ariana Grande and debuted their new song “Amazing Day”. Chris Martin from Coldplay sang “Thinking Out Loud” with Ed Sheeran.

Powerful women dominated the stage in Central Park. Beyoncé stole the show as she performed songs such as “Single Ladies” and “Survivor”. Beyoncé gave First Lady Michelle Obama a welcoming hug on stage. Mrs. Obama encouraged everyone to tweet #62MillionGirls to highlight the 62 million girls who are not enrolled in school.

Vice President Joe Biden took the stage at the Global Citizen Festival and called upon the audience to take action, noting “There are many different issues that bring us here tonight: extreme poverty, climate change, [and] standing up for women and girls”.

Feet away from the stage, I was thrilled to hear Bill and Melinda Gates present. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, declared that the road to eradicate poverty will have its challenges, but we can achieve it.

Pearl Jam concluded the show with a brilliant set full of colorful lights and powerful music. Millions of Americans watched from home as MSNBC streamed a live taping of the concert on televisions across the U.S.

We must not be a generation of bystanders; we must be a generation of informed and engaged global citizens who take on the mantle of leadership in our society. Through ensuring prosperity for all, we must combat climate change, protect life below water, foster gender equality, promote well-being and advocate for quality education. There is no one else better than global citizens to tackle this issue. The next 15 years look very promising; we are the generation that can eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.

Beyoncé on stage

Leonardo DiCaprio speaks at the Festival

Vice President Joe Biden addresses global citizens

0 Comments

Girl Rising: Changing the Way the World Values the Girl

9/25/2015

0 Comments

By Lauren Berkley, Senior Staff Reporter

According to the 2012 EFA Global Monitoring Report, there are 66 million girls out of school worldwide. That’s 66 million girls that dream of a better life full of opportunities. Girl Rising is looking to award those opportunities through education.

Girl Rising is an incredible organization that uses storytelling as a tool to communicate the simple idea that educating girls can transform not only individual lives, but also entire societies. The organization works in countries all over the world raising awareness about the issue, inspiring action, and driving resources to powerful partners that help them make change happen. They do this through advocacy videos, screening guides, and a free standards-aligned school curriculum. Their main tool is their incredibly inspiring documentary that made me want to originally join the movement.

We must remember that each life is precious and deserving of equal opportunity. Educating just one girl can not only change her life, but also change her community. According to UNESCO, a child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5. Educated mothers are more than twice as likely to send their children to school. Girls with 8 years of education are 4 times less likely to be married as children. A girl with an extra year of education can earn 20% more as an adult. When a girl is educated, she learns more than just math and English. She learns that she is important. She stands up for her rights and she chases her dreams. This is a change that happens fast.

I became a regional ambassador for Girl Rising in January of this year. As an ambassador, I do my best to spread the message of Girl Rising in anyway I can. On Friday, May 8th, with the generous assistance of Key Club, I held a movie night for Sturgis students and faculty and screened the the very documentary that first motivated me to become a passionate advocate for girls’ education. 30 people came and were inspired in the same way I was. Through following the stories of several young girls from different countries across the globe, this movie touches your heart in ways I truly cannot put into words. If you have not seen it, you can find it on Netflix under “Girl Rising.”

The most important thing that came out of the Girl Rising event was that we raised enough money in donations to send a girl to school for a year. This may not sound like much compared to the aforementioned statistic that there about 66 million girls out of school globally. It may not sound like much when, also according to the UNFPA, 14 million girls under the age of 18 will be married this year. According to the World Health Organization, the #1 cause of death for girls ages 15-19 is childbirth. For each of these startling statistics, there are hundreds more to put a chill in your bone.

I hope Sturgis students will gain a perspective on this issue. We must think of our sisters in Afghanistan that cannot go to school because they are married and mothers before their 18th birthdays. We must think of our sisters in Ethiopia whose parents cannot afford to send both their children to school, so they send their son. We must think of our sisters across the globe who do not receive the same opportunities as us. We must feel grateful to attend school each day. We must use our educational resources to reach out to our sisters, to help them change the world, and to spread the word of Girl Rising. Join the movement. Let’s change the way the world values the girl.

To learn more, visit: girlrising.com

0 Comments

Sturgis Students Take Transformative Trip to Haiti

9/25/2015

0 Comments

Sturgis students dress up for church in New Canaan

By Caroline Sullivan, Junior

It has been over five years since a horrendous earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti. Although there has been a lot of progress, the effects are still lingering. In its aftermath, the government encouraged people to move out of the tents in the middle of the city, and into the surrounding mountains. While communities are continuously growing, expanding and improving in the nearby mountains, they still need assistance.

This summer, I had the trip of a lifetime to Haiti with four other Sturgis East students (juniors Julia Buckner and Alex White and seniors Jack Rush and Isabella Roberge), and math teacher Mr. McKay. Accompanied by several other members of Mr. McKay’s church, the group flew into the Port- au- Prince airport at the end of July. The goal of this trip was to build a medical clinic in one of these mountainous villages known as New Canaan.

Everyday, our group would ride from where we were staying in the city into the mountains on a 45 minute ride. Each day our transportation would be different: a worn down public bus all for ourselves, a school bus, a crowded (and very sweaty) van, or even the local choice of transportation, the tap tap. Our travel through Port-au-Prince, the capital of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, was truly eye-opening. I saw issues such as poor sanitation and lack of infrastructure.

Soon after, we would make it into the mountains; it was very dusty and there were not as many resources, but you could see the strong sense of community. The group we were with had built a school in New Canaan the previous summer and it was amazing for them to see how far it had come. Everyday, we would help build a medical clinic along with local construction workers, using just hand tools to construct the cement block building. Once finished, this medical clinic will replace the current facility (the midwife’s home made of sheet metal and tarps) where 3-4 babies are born each month. The goal of our trip was to build this, so the people of New Canaan have a place to go for medical help. A young nurse in Port-au-Prince will start working there once the construction is finished.

We also spent a couple mornings in the classrooms, where Vacation Bible School was going on. I made bead bracelets with a class of about sixty 3-5 year olds. Everyday more and more kids would come to the school yard to visit us. We played games like soccer and wiffle ball (until one young boy hit a homerun onto the roof of the school), sang songs in Haitian Creole and English, and thoroughly enjoyed our days interacting with such joyful children.

Every afternoon as we boarded our transportation to take back into the city, we would say “na wè pita” (see you tomorrow), and although we couldn’t say that on the last day, I know we will all remember the connections we made with locals forever. It was one of the most heartbreaking and heartwarming weeks of my life, and I think about the people of New Canaan everyday.

A classroom at the school built last summer

0 Comments

World Challenge Ecuador

9/25/2015

0 Comments

By Livia Murray, Junior Class Reporter

The World Challenge trip to Ecuador is a unique and exciting travel opportunity for the Junior class. Students can learn important life skills that are not easily taught in a classroom such as leadership, decision making and teamwork. Here is an interview I had with Mr Hulse, the organizer, to learn more about the details and plans for the upcoming trip:

Where in Ecuador are you visiting?

“It looks like we'll fly into Quito to acclimate to the climate and culture for a day and then head to the highlands for our community project. Afterwards we will go to Otavolo where we have been recommended various treks to waterfalls and high-altitude lakes. Lastly we will head to the Northern Andes to complete our main trek. There we will be among the Alto Chocó, a cloud forest with a variety of ecosystems. “

What type of service and project work will the group be doing?

“The team of students will ultimately choose exactly what they will do. However, it is a community service project which means we will be living and working alongside an Ecuadorian community. Before heading there, we will talk about the strengths of the individuals on our team and how we can make the biggest, real impact.”

What is the cost of the trip and what does that include?

“The cost is $3695. This typically includes flights and in-country transportation, food, guide's fees, parks fees and local equipment hire/purchase, 24 hour backup from World Challenge, leaders and expedition assistants, and any expedition specific equipment such as tents, ropes, medical supplies etc.”

Lastly, why would you recommend students to sign up for this trip?

“I think World Challenge provides a really cool, unique travel opportunity. This trip really offers a lot of freedom but also requires a lot of leadership and teamwork. Unlike other tour-based travel programs, this is one centered around community and expedition. I recommend this trip of a lifetime to anyone looking to challenge themselves and grow as a global citizen. “

Thank you Mr. Hulse for answering these questions. I definitely recommend this trip for the junior class. Sign up today for this memorable adventure!

0 Comments

Lunch on Mainstreet: Pizza Barbone

9/25/2015

0 Comments

By Sam Trelegan, Sophomore Class Reporter

Pizza Barbone is now offering an impressive discount to Sturgis East students and faculty. They have generously discounted their wildly popular 8” pizzas from 10 dollars to 5 dollars for takeout only, and are giving faculty 15% off all items during school hours. When I heard this I just had to know more. The restaurant is just a brief walk from Sturgis in between Rendezvous Cafe and Little Miss Cupcape. They are located at 390 Main Street in Hyannis. They also have an entrance in the Annex parking lot behind Puritans.

Walking in I was immediately greeted, and pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere which the owner Ali O’toole describes as “chic and refined”. From my experience, that is an apt description. From Ali I learned about the unique methods that Pizza Barbone uses to give their customer the freshest, healthiest, and tastiest pizza. After honing their skills at local farmers markets and festivals for several years, Pizza Barbone established a permanent location in 2012. Displayed proudly behind the counter is the jewel of the operation: their wood burning oven. This oven was handcrafted out of rock from Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. It cooks their pizzas at over 1000 degrees. This uses no gas or electricity which is consistent with their efforts to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Besides their unique cooking method, they also have very distinct and delicious ingredient. They import an ultra fine flour from Italy to make their doughs, and many of their vegetables are grown in a rooftop garden. You can be sure that you are eating the freshest food around.

Giving a hefty discount on pizza is not the only way Pizza Barbone is helping local students. Last year they began giving scholarships to 3 local students. Sturgis graduate Liam Prendergast received the scholarship last year. Pizza Barbone hopes that other restaurants and small businesses will follow their example of giving back to the community and supporting local education.

Students can seize the opportunity for takeout from Pizza Barbone. If you are looking for a tasty, fresh, and cheap lunch look no further than Pizza Barbone, located at 390 Main Street.

0 Comments

<<Previous