IVECA Welcomes First-Time Participants: Cameroon, Singapore, Indonesia & South Carolina, USA
- IVECA Center
- Oct 17
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
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.
