Sessions

Teens Dream – Engaging Teens Globally on the UN SDGs (B) at the Youth Summit

      

Catherine Meadows

Teens Dream

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Catherine Meadows


Catherine Meadows is a teen ambassador for Teens Dream's Education Hub. She has worked as an intern and ambassador for Teens Dream for two years, following her submission of her winning video "Education For All" in the annual Teens Dream video contest. Acting upon her passion of improving the quality of education worldwide, she has taken a major role in leading and managing the Education Hub initiative. She will continue these efforts as a Naval ROTC student at George Washington University in the fall. 

Amna Baloul

Global Co Lab Network

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Amna Baloul


Amna Baloul is the summer intern for the Global Co Lab Network. She assists Founding Director , Linda Staheli, with logistical preparations for the Teens Dream annual global video contest celebration, as well as coordinates in-person and virtual meetings with youth and adults globally. Amna also manages the development and scaling of virtual Dream Hubs with an action-oriented focus. She is currently a rising Junior at the College of William & Mary majoring in Public Health with a minor in Arabic Language and Literature Studies.

Linda Staheli

Global Co Lab Network

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Linda Staheli


Linda Staheli, Founding Director of the Global Co Lab Network, and its associated projects including Teens Dream, has more than thirty years of experience advancing international science and innovation engagements impacting security, diplomacy, science and innovation missions working for the U.S. White House, State Department, National Institutes of Health and a number of non governmental organizations. She now focuses her time managing a global non-profit organization dedicated to engaging youth more proactively in addressing today’s complex challenges with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

      
Session Details

Type: Roundtable

Location: Room 1330

Date: Friday

Time: 10:30-11:20 AM

Session Description

Teens Dream is a platform for teens to express, share and network around their dreams as they relate to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through virtual pages and meeting rooms known as Dream Hubs. Teens Dream also hosts an annual video competition aligning teens’ dreams with one of the SDGs. In this presentation, attendees will learn the purpose, mission, and structure of Teens Dream, as well as its’ current expansion efforts and how to engage in this youth project.

What will youth learn and be able to do at the end of the session?

At the end of the roundtable discussion, youth will gain a sense of empowerment through the knowledge of their value in solving today’s global issues. They will also gain a tool for connecting and acting upon their passions via Teens Dream and the Dream Hubs. By introducing youth to our organization, we grant them a platform in answering their call to action. Educators will also benefit from learning and discussing techniques not only for empowering their students to be courageous in the pursuit of their dreams but how to increase awareness of the SDG’s in educating their students.  See here for a preview beta test of each Dream Hub:  https://www.teensdreamcolab.org/dream-hubs/dream-hub-no-poverty/

Additional Session Information

One of Teens Dream’s primary initiatives is to connect and engage youth in discussions and conversations centered on their dreams as they relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Every year, we host an international video competition in which teens submit a 2-minute video on their dream as it relates to one of the UNSDG’s. We then connect both winners and submitters to mentors and resources and invite them to participate in one of our Dream Hubs, virtual teen-led gatherings for teens to connect globally on each of the UNSDGs. 

 We would also present Teens Dream’s Dream Hubs-virtual hubs for teens around the world to connect, discuss, and receive mentorship in their dreams as they relate to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We currently have an Education Dream Hub, an Arts Dream Hub, and a No Hunger Dream Hub that allow youth to act upon their passions. We would discuss the methods that we have discovered are most effective in engaging youth, including the value of teen leadership, the vitality of mentorship and peer support, and the power of affirmation and empowerment in education. Our presentation will be mutually beneficial in sharing our organization as a tool for educators and youth and for discussion of new ideas surrounding the empowerment and engagement of youth around the UNSDG’s.